Latest News, News Headlines, Amazon Coupons, Amazon Offers

Latest News, News Headlines, Amazon Coupons, Amazon Offers


Something New

Posted: 17 May 2019 08:02 AM PDT

Something New


Farberware's air fryer is on sale for just $38 at Walmart

Posted: 17 May 2019 07:45 AM PDT

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It feels like we blinked and suddenly everyone has an air fryer. Seriously, just peek at the counter if someone posts a picture in their kitchen. It's there.

If you still haven't hopped on the train, it's probably because A. you don't have room for it or B. you don't see a point in spending $100 on an appliance you technically don't need.

Here's an easy way in: This 3.2-quart air fryer from Farberware is the perfect size for squished counter situations (it only takes up one square foot!), and it's on sale for $38 at Walmart with free two-day delivery.

More about Cooking, Kitchen, Mashable Shopping, Shopping Solo, and Air Fryer

August Smart Lock Pro is $55 off on Amazon

Posted: 17 May 2019 07:37 AM PDT

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Are you still scarred from the first time you watched Home Alone all those years ago? We don’t blame you, and considering that not many people have the creative mind to build makeshift traps that can thwart intruders, we suggest you go the easier route and just make sure your home is completely secure from the outside — which you can achieve from anywhere with a smart lock. (How different would that movie have been if Kevin had a smart home?)

The August Smart Lock Pro is on sale on Amazon for $55 less than the original asking price — you’ll come to realize that the peace of mind it’ll afford you was well worth the investment.  Read more...

More about Smart Home, Mashable Shopping, Shopping Solo, Smart Locks, and Tech

Your guide to the best online mattress: Casper, Nectar, Leesa, and more

Posted: 03 Oct 2018 02:00 AM PDT

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BEST DEALS ON MATTRESSES THIS WEEK


Sleep can make or break your day. If you wake up feeling energized and refreshed, concentrating and functioning will be a breeze. On the other hand, if you spend most of your nights tossing and turning, the whole day can feel like a challenge. You’ll be fatigued, irritable, and reaching for the nearest caffeine source.  Read more...

More about Home, Sleep, Mattress, Mashable Shopping, and Lifestyle

10 times Grumpy Cat was gloriously grumpy

Posted: 17 May 2019 07:07 AM PDT

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Grumpy Cat — one of the most beloved viral pets online — has died at age 7, and the internet will never be the same.

Grumpy's humans posted the news on social media Friday morning, and fans of the the unimpressed-looking feline, whose real name is Tardar Sauce, have been paying tribute ever since. 

As internet lovers remember the joy this cat's grumpy little face brought to their lives, Mashable decided to dive into the archives and reminisce on all the memories we shared with Grumpy Cat over the years. There are A LOT.

Here are 10 times Grumpy Cat was gloriously and unapologetically grumpy. Read more...

1. The time she did the "Harlem Shake" (almost)

More about Memes, Animals, Cats, Grumpy Cat, and Culture

Find your perfect player two: These are the best dating sites for gamers in the UK

Posted: 17 May 2019 07:00 AM PDT

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You know what they say: Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Let's be honest, dating can be difficult — even at the best of times. Whether it's finding common interests and shared passions or something as simple as holding a meaningful conversation, it can take a lot of work to find Mr. or Mrs. Right. It doesn't matter if you're looking for a long-term relationship or more of a one-night connection. Dating can be awkward, challenging, and even downright stressful.

However, just because it can be difficult doesn't mean it can't be fun too. And for gamers, fun is what really matters. Whether it's becoming Thanos for a bit in Fortnite or protecting the last safe city in Destiny 2, people who play video games like to have fun with everything they do and every game they play. Read more...

More about Dating, Culture, Sex, Video Games, and Uk Deals

Adobe's Creative Cloud Photography plan is down to just £8.32 a month

Posted: 17 May 2019 06:54 AM PDT

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Your hobbies are an essential part of what makes you who you are, and it's vital to allow your passion for these pursuits to blossom. If you are a creative type, there's a service out there that can help you reach your potential.

Adobe's Creative Cloud is full of great apps and services for video, design, photography, and the web. Whether you're a professional or beginner, Adobe's Creative Cloud provides a tailored solution for your specific skill level.

The Creative Cloud Photography Plan is designed for advanced photographers. The plan includes Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop, as well as 20GB of cloud storage, so you can edit, store, and share your photos. It's a complete creative service, and is down from £9.98 a month to just £8.32 a month until May 23. Read more...

More about Adobe, Adobe Creative Cloud, Mashable Shopping, Shopping Solo, and Shopping Uk

Pre-order the brand new Amazon Fire 7 tablet for under £50

Posted: 17 May 2019 06:54 AM PDT

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Participation is important, and it's not all about winning, but we're not going to pretend that being first doesn't provide a rush that's hard to beat.

You can ensure that you'll be one of the first to get your hands on the all-new Amazon Fire 7 tablet by pre-ordering from Amazon. That's a guaranteed buzz for under £50. 

The device is due for release on June 6, and is available for £49.99. It features an impressive 7-inch IPS display, 1.3 GHz quad-core processor, and a gigabyte of RAM. You can choose between 16 or 32 gigabytes of internal storage, with up to 512 gigabytes of expandable storage with a microSD. Read more...

More about Amazon, Fire Tablet, Mashable Shopping, Shopping Uk, and Uk Deals

Save £16 on the MyHeritage DNA test in the Eurovision sale

Posted: 17 May 2019 06:49 AM PDT

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The Eurovision Song Contest makes absolutely zero sense to anyone outside of Europe. In fact, it doesn't really make a lot of sense to those well-versed in the competition. It's full of weird energy, with incredible performances and often sketchy vocals. It really does have to be experienced to be believed.

The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 will be held in Tel Aviv on May 18, and MyHeritage has dropped the price of its DNA test by £16 to celebrate this momentous occasion. You can now pick up a test for just £59. The sale ends on May 20, so you need to act fast to secure this price. Read more...

More about Dna Test, Mashable Shopping, Myheritage, Shopping Uk, and Uk Deals

Apple AirPods, MacBooks, Jura coffee machines, Fitbits, Samsung smartwatches, and more on sale for May 17 in the UK

Posted: 17 May 2019 06:48 AM PDT

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It's Friday and it's time to celebrate. Let's get through this day together, and then we're in the clear. Two whole days to party, relax, and live our best lives.

We have tracked down some fantastic deals to guide you through the last working day of the week. If there's one thing that can make this day go smoothly, it's savings. You can pick up discounted appliances for the home and kitchen, as well as wearable technology from Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung, and Huawei.

We have also lined up a selection of the very best deals that the web has to offer, on everything from electric toothbrushes to Apple devices. The choice is all yours. Read more...

More about Apple, Fitbit, Mashable Shopping, Shopping Uk, and Uk Deals
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The internet pays tribute to Grumpy Cat

Posted: 17 May 2019 06:03 AM PDT

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Proving once again that there is nothing good about 2019, the internet woke up Friday morning to the news of Grumpy Cat's passing, the viral pet known for its resting grouch face.

Grumpy Cat's owners announced on Friday on Instagram that the cat passed away on Tuesday at the age of 7. The internet reacted by sharing their condolences and memories of the famous feline, starting with Nala Cat, one of Grump Cat's internet famous pet peers.

More about Grumpy Cat, Viral Animals, Culture, Web Culture, and Animals

'Minecraft Earth' puts a 'Pokémon Go' spin on your favorite blocky building game

Posted: 17 May 2019 06:01 AM PDT

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It was only a matter of time, right?

Minecraft is taking a step into the real world later in 2019, and it's looking to examples like Pokémon Go for inspiration. We've seen Mojang's global sensation flourish in virtual reality already, and now it's taking aim on a new technological frontier: augmented reality.

The new game is called Minecraft Earth and it's exactly what you would think, delivering an Android/iOS take on the Minecraft experience. It's not quite the same as the game you know from PCs, consoles, smartphones, and tablets, but it does embrace the same core ideas.

For starters, it's free to play. Microsoft isn't yet talking about how players will be invited to spend money, beyond asserting up front that there won't be "loot boxes." McHugh described the monetization philosophy as "player first and player-friendly." Minecraft Earth won't be an ad-supported app. My guess is in-app purchases will take the form of resources and other time-savers. Read more...

More about Microsoft, Minecraft, Mojang, Augmented Reality, and Minecraft Earth

'Superstore' showrunner Justin Spitzer explains that shocking finale

Posted: 17 May 2019 05:00 AM PDT

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This post contains spoilers for the Season 4 finale of Superstore

It's safe to say that when you're watching a feel-good sitcom, you don't expect to fear for your favorite characters' lives. But Superstore pulled that rug out from under us with the Season 4 finale, "Employee Appreciation Day," sending Mateo Liwanag (Nico Santos) into custody of ICE for being an undocumented immigrant.

"We’ve always had in the back of our minds since we introduced the storyline that that was one potential move we could do," showrunner Justin Spitzer told Mashable via phone interview. "We had originally planned on doing it about two-thirds of the way through the season, and then just the way stories unfolded and arcs were working out, it just sort of pushed it later." Read more...

More about Entertainment, Television, Nbc, Immigration, and Superstore

Democrats and Republicans are freaked out by Chinese 5G technology — but are they just being paranoid?

Posted: 17 May 2019 04:00 AM PDT

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Democrats and Republicans rarely agree on anything, but this week, the parties united to condemn one common enemy: China.

The views of President Trump and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle aligned when they determined that allowing the Chinese company Huawei to build a global 5G network constitutes a security threat to the U.S. 

That might not be the whole story, though: Dashing Huawei's 5G ambitions would give the U.S. an economic advantage, and allies don't agree with the  threat level of a potential Huawei-run 5G network. However, experts say that fear about the control the Chinese government might exercise over a Huawei 5G network is genuine, and warranted. Read more...

More about China, National Security, Huawei, 5g, and Tech

Season 2 cements 'Fleabag' as some of the best television in history

Posted: 17 May 2019 04:00 AM PDT

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In the same month that Avengers: Endgame arguably stuck the landing and Game of Thrones ... will end, one way or another, Amazon airs the second and final season of Fleabag, a master class in character, emotion, and how to end a story with enviable magnificence.

We catch up with our unnamed heroine Fleabag (writer/creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge) over a year after the events of Season 1. In the firecracker of a season premiere, she breaks the acrimonious silence with her sister (Sian Clifford) to focus on their father's (Bill Paterson) wedding. 

Enter the Priest.

The phenomenally cast Andrew Scott catches Fleabag's eye from the get-go. At first he's hot, then he's "cool and swear-y," and then she's popping around the church to bond with him over a canned G&T, pretending she isn't obsessed with his neck and that he's not visibly flustered to see her during a sermon. Read more...

More about Entertainment, Television, Amazon, Comedy, and U.K.

Grumpy Cat, viral internet sensation, dies aged 7

Posted: 17 May 2019 03:20 AM PDT

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Tardar Sauce, a viral internet sensation commonly known as Grumpy Cat, has died at the age of 7.

The family of Grumpy Cat, who had 2.4 million followers on Instagram, confirmed the news in a post on Friday morning.

"Despite care from top professionals, as well as from her very loving family, Grumpy encountered problems from a recent urinary tract infection that unfortunately became too tough for her to overcome," reads the post. 

"She passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, May 14, at home in the arms of her mommy, Tabatha."

View this post on Instagram

Some days are grumpier than others...

A post shared by Grumpy Cat (@realgrumpycat) on Read more...

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Halle Berry eats turkey balls to avoid revealing the 1 actor she'd never work with again

Posted: 17 May 2019 03:05 AM PDT

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What would you rather do — publicly answer a question about someone you'd never want to work with again, or take a bite out of some turkey balls?

This was the dilemma Halle Berry faced during a game of "Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts" on The Late Show with James Corden.

"There's two people on the list," says Berry in the clip above. "One used to be [famous], not so much any more — he went to jail. But one is [famous] so I'm gonna eat the balls."

The only other clues she gives is that the person is "super duper famous" and "not too tall".

Then she tucks into a turkey ball. Read more...

More about Uk, Halle Berry, The Late Show With James Corden, Culture, and Celebrities

'Raising Kratos' is a vital look at the secretive human side of making video games

Posted: 17 May 2019 03:00 AM PDT

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Raising Kratos isn't the fluff piece it could've been.

The newly released God of War documentary from Noclip has some measure of Sony support behind it. There was every reason to expect a focus on technical dazzle, auteurship, and generally the rosiest possible picture of how games are made.

What we get instead is a human portrait of artists at work. And while there's a large emphasis on the contributions of creative director Cory Barlog, the biggest focus is on God of War being the product of a team effort. We get to see how a game is made, but more important than that, we get to see the humans behind the lines of code at every step of the process. Read more...

More about God Of War, Sony Santa Monica Studio, Watch Of The Week, Entertainment, and Gaming

21 of the best masturbation-themed tattoos we could find

Posted: 17 May 2019 03:00 AM PDT

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May is National Masturbation Month, and we're celebrating with Feeling Yourself, a series exploring the finer points of self-pleasure.


Having an image permanently immortalized on your flesh vessel is a big decision. What will you go for? Some delicate, detailed floral patches? Your mom's name? 

Or how about something a bit more saucy

Sex tattoos. People get them. They're usually pretty bad, though. The artistic designs are too graphic, or just terrible on the sheer principle of getting a dick plastered on a visible part of your body alone. 

But masturbation-themed tattoos are a relatively recent subset of tattoos that, when done tastefully, can be cheeky and sexy in the best of ways. They're an ode to self-love without the brazen aura sex tattoos usually give off (alerting everyone in the vicinity that "this person fucks").  Read more...

More about Instagram, Culture, Tattoos, Feeling Yourself, and Culture

Dell gaming desktop, Samsung 4K TVs, and more deals for May 17

Posted: 17 May 2019 02:51 AM PDT

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Still putting up with a potato PC? You don't have to choose between playing today's new releases and not killing your wallet, you knowDell is offering this Inspiron gaming desktop for $699.99 after code DT5KG. Here, you can run the latest AMD Ryzen 7 2700 processor with an AMD Radeon RX 580 graphics cardNoice.

In the market for a different type of tech? The newest 9.7-inch iPad is on sale at Walmart for as low as $249, or grab the Nintendo Switch and get two free bonus controllers.

Check out more of today's best deals from Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, and Adorama for Friday, May 17:

Read more...

More about Tv, Gaming, Home, Consumer Tech, and Mashable Shopping
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The Choose-Your-Own-Ending generation: Fan petitions have gone too far

Posted: 17 May 2019 02:30 AM PDT

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In our grim and grimmer world, the dragon has awoken. 

Bad news has flapped its way to the front lines of reality, and it just exhaled. The White House has embraced lawlessness; the Justice Department is enabling itFive justices of the Supreme Court and several state legislatures are setting fire to decades of precedent and imposing a deeply regressive agenda. Ignorance is rampant. Millions will suffer. 

As this multi-headed draconian dragon arises, we mobilize. Practically overnight, more than 650,000  citizens of the internet rushed to petition site Change.org to demand ... that HBO remake season 8 of Game of Thrones.  Read more...

More about Fans, Petition, George R.R. Martin, Game Of Thrones Season 8, and Petitions

Save 87% on a lifetime subscription to productivity app Focuster

Posted: 17 May 2019 02:00 AM PDT

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A group chat notification from your friend spilling scorching hot #tea. Your chatty co-worker begging for your thoughts on the latest episode of Game of Thrones. Your favorite online store announcing a surprise sale. BTS dropping new tour dates.

All of these diversions can throw you off your productivity streak, and it could take you to up to 24 minutes to restore your focus once you've lost it in the depths of your Twitter feed.

Want to hear something even more painful? Wasted hours of productivity translate to about $1,800 a month in lost revenue. O-U-C-H.

Watching your friend's Instagram story isn't going to put food on the table nor earn you money to score front row tickets. Put a stop — or at least minimize — your rampant procrastination with Focuster, an app that could help boost your focus and supercharge your productivity. You can pick up a lifetime subscription today for 87% off. Read more...

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The ‘Game of Thrones’ prophecies to know going into the finale

Posted: 17 May 2019 02:00 AM PDT

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With only one more episode of Game of Thrones left, you'd think there wouldn't be many relevant prophecies to think about. But George R.R. Martin's cryptic predictions continue to be the gift that keeps on giving, to the very end.

Several prophecies got direct callouts on episode 5, "The Bells." The prophecy shoutouts ranged from the obvious to the more obscure, with some fan interpretations shedding a completely new light on what they might mean within the context of the final season.

Dragon wings over King's Landing

Was Drogon the Stallion Who Will Mount The World.

Was Drogon the Stallion Who Will Mount The World.

Image: hbo

The most straightforward prophetic moment in episode 5 finally saw the reoccurring vision of dragon wings over King's Landing come true. We first saw that vision back in Season 4, when Bran touched the heart tree before finding the Three-Eyed Raven. Read more...

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Save $20 on this electric toothbrush that lasts 3 months on a single charge

Posted: 17 May 2019 02:00 AM PDT

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Still brushing your teeth with a standard toothbrush? Time to get a tech upgrade. 

If your past few trips to the dentist have been anything but fun, consider getting an electric toothbrush for some high-powered help in the dental hygiene department.

There are tons of different models out there, but the Pur Hydro Clean Sonic Toothbrush has one major advantage: battery life. 

Not only does it deliver the high-powered 40,000 brush stroke per minute performance expected of a top-notch sonic toothbrush, but it's also one of the longest lasting models of its kind on the market, with a battery life of three months of use on a single charge. That's up to three times longer than its closest competitors (which can last at most three weeks between charges). Read more...

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Best sex toys for couples, according to reviews

Posted: 17 May 2019 02:00 AM PDT

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Yes, of course, there’s something special between you and your sweetie. But perhaps it’s time to add in a little something else.

Fortunately, we find ourselves in the golden age of couples sex toys. There’s now something for everyone — including these pop culture sex toys for anyone obsessed with Game of Thrones or Doctor Who. If you have an itch, then it's pretty much guaranteed there's a sex toy out there that can scratch it. (Just make sure it's not one of these.) 

SEE ALSO: Best vibrators (the good, the great, the orgasmic)

For anyone new to the sex toy game, the humble vibrator or a quality cock ring is a great place to start. (Need something bigger? Try these. Looking for solo inspiration? Check out Feeling Yourself, our series dedicated to all things masturbation.) Read more...

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Stephen King tweets his defence of the final 'Game of Thrones' season

Posted: 17 May 2019 01:54 AM PDT

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Warning: Contains spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 8.

If you've been anywhere near social media since the start of the final Game of Thrones season, you'll probably have noticed the criticism. There's been quite a lot of it.

The show has had its defenders, too, but at the very least it seems clear that Thrones' fiery final outing has largely divided people.

Some fans are sticking by it, though. And if you're going to have anyone standing in your corner, the king of horror himself is probably a good place to start.

I've loved this last season of GoT, including Dani going bugshit all over King's Landing. There's been a lot of negativity about the windup, but I think it's just because people don't want ANY ending. But you know what they say: All good things...

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) May 16, 2019 Read more...

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Sprint to start selling 5G version of LG V50 very soon

Posted: 17 May 2019 01:45 AM PDT

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Sprint is launching its first 5G devices this month. 

On Thursday, the company announced the launch of LG's V50 ThinQ 5G smartphone, as well as HTC's 5G Hub, with pre-orders starting on Friday, May 17. 

Launched during the Mobile World Congress in February, the LG V50 ThinQ 5G is LG's first 5G smartphone, offering "20 times" the speeds of 4G according to LG. It's a 6.4-inch phone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chip, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 4,000mAh battery and a triple rear camera (with 12/12/16-megapixel sensors), as well as a dual, 8/5-megapixel selfie camera.  Read more...

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Robert Pattinson is reportedly your next Batman

Posted: 16 May 2019 06:21 PM PDT

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Robert Pattinson is the next Dark Knight, it appears.

When Batman returns to the big screen in 2021, the face behind his trademark cowl will reportedly belong to the Twilight star, sources told Variety

The publisher reports the deal hasn't been 100 percent sealed, but that Pattinson is expected to be confirmed soon. 

Deadline, however, reported the star has not yet been confirmed, noting that director Matt Reeves and Warner Bros merely have Pattinson on a short list alongside Tolkien star Nicholas Hoult.

Ben Affleck bowed out of his role in Warner Bros.' DC Extended Universe with an announcement in late January. Read more...

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Snapchat's 'gender-swap' filter exposes the internet's casual transphobia

Posted: 16 May 2019 02:35 PM PDT

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It is a truth universally acknowledged that there is a face filter for everything, from putting puppy ears on your head to horrifically swapping your face with inanimate objects. 

The latest filter trend on Snapchat is gender. Yep, just gender. This filter, in particular, captured people's attention in a way that others haven't, becoming so popular that people have re-downloaded Snapchat, an app seemingly being left in the social media dust, to use it.

The filter is fairly simple: It swaps your features for traditionally feminine or masculine ones. When it rolled out last week, the internet had a field day, with users fantasizing about what it would be like to swap genders. But it wasn't all fun and games for the trans community, who had to witness both their cis friends and strangers suddenly turning the act of "switching genders" into the latest viral joke. Read more...

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What just happened in King's Landing? — Good Day Westeros

Posted: 16 May 2019 01:44 PM PDT

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Bob and Proma deal with the fallout of the Battle of King's Landing and drop in on their sister show, "Good Day Essos!" Read more...

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Major U.S. retailers are now accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency

Posted: 16 May 2019 01:42 PM PDT

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Those taking the digital money include clothing store Nordstrom, grocer Whole Foods, and movie chain Regal Cinemas. The move is thanks to a new deal between payment network Flexa and digital asset platform Gemini.  Read more...

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Latest World News, World News, Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs

Posted: 17 May 2019 04:36 AM PDT

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Tweets For Today

Posted: 16 May 2019 10:30 PM PDT











Germany, France And The Netherlands Will Not Follow President Trump's Huawei Ban

Posted: 16 May 2019 10:00 PM PDT



DW: EU leaders: We won't follow Trump's Huawei ban

Germany, France and the Netherlands have said they will not block Huawei from participating in the expansion of national 5G networks. The US fears that China could use Huawei equipment for spying.

The leaders of Germany, France and the Netherlands said Thursday that their governments do not plan to follow the lead of the US and ban Chinese telecommunications company Huawei from building up their national 5G high-speed mobile networks.

President Donald Trump declared a national emergency for the telecommunications sector on Wednesday, citing "unacceptable risks" from "foreign adversaries" — including from cyberespionage and sabotage. The executive order empowers Washington to ban technology and services, including Huawei, which US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said would be blacklisted as of Friday.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Germany, France and the Netherlands have governments that cannot be seen pandering to President Trump. It then makes you wonder .... was this decision based on that, or do they really believe that Huawei is not a security threat?

Picture Of The Day

Posted: 16 May 2019 09:30 PM PDT

Twenty three 2020 Democratic presidential candidates are seen in a combination from file photos (L-R top row): U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Michael Bennet. (L-R middle row): Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke, U.S. Representatives Tulsi Gabbard, John Delaney, Eric Swalwell, Tim Ryan, Seth Moulton, former HUD Secretary Julian Castro and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. (L-R bottom row): Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Former Gov. John Hickenlooper, Gov. Jay Inslee, Andrew Yang, Marianne Williamson, Mayor Wayne Messam, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. REUTERS/Files

WNU Editor: The above picture came form this photo-gallery .... Democratic presidential contenders of 2020 (Reuters).

Egyptian Army Offensive In The Sinai Peninsula Kills 47 Militants And 5 Soldiers

Posted: 16 May 2019 09:00 PM PDT

Egypt's army on Thursday said 47 militants and five of its troops were killed as part of its military offensive in the restive Sinai Peninsula, where it is fighting Daesh. (File/AFP)

Al Jazeera: Egypt's Sinai: At least 47 fighters, 5 troops killed in battle

Army says it also confiscated firearms and improvised explosive devices from fighters in the restive peninsula.

Forty-seven fighters and five Egyptian soldiers were killed during Egypt's ongoing military offensive in the restive Sinai Peninsula, where it is fighting Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS).

The fighters had "guns of different makes, ammunition, explosive devices in northern and central Sinai" in their possession, according to a video statement posted on Thursday on the armed forces' social media accounts.

One of the Egyptian troops killed included an officer, it said. As part of the wide-ranging operation to secure Egypt's borders, 158 "criminal elements" were arrested.

Read more ....

Update: 47 suspected militants, 5 troops killed in Egypt's Sinai (Arab News/AFP)

WNU Editor: This is one of those conflicts that deserves far more coverage than what it is receiving.

A Dispute Among Former FBI-CIA Officials Erupts On Who Pushed The Steele Dossier

Posted: 16 May 2019 08:00 PM PDT



FOX News: Dispute erupts over whether Brennan, Comey pushed Steele dossier, as DOJ probe into misconduct begins

A high-level dispute over which senior government officials pushed the unverified Steele dossier amid efforts to surveil the Trump campaign has broken out into the open again, after it emerged that Attorney General William Barr appointed a U.S. attorney to examine the origins of the Russia investigation and determine if the FBI and DOJ's actions were "lawful and appropriate."

Sources familiar with the records told Fox News that a late-2016 email chain indicated then-FBI Director James Comey told bureau subordinates that then-CIA Director John Brennan insisted the dossier be included in the intelligence community assessment on Russian interference, known as the ICA.

Read more ....

Update: FBI-CIA Dispute Erupts Over Whether Comey Or Brennan Pushed Steele Dossier (Zero Hedge)

WNU Editor: My gut tells me that it is former CIA Director John Brennan who pushed the dossier. Former FBI Director Comey never struck me as someone who thought strategically or was as vested politically as the former CIA Director was with the Obama administration, its legacy, and a continuation of that legacy into a Clinton administration. One other piece of information that makes me believe that it is the former CIA Director who pushed this dossier comes from former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos. He strongly believes that it was the CIA and not the FBI who tried to use and manipulate him to implicate the Trump campaign with Russia .... Papadopoulos: Informant Who Tried To "Seduce" Me During 2016 Campaign Was CIA Not FBI (RCP). My prediction .... the Department of Justice is now conducting a probe and investigation on what led to the decisions to issue a FISA warrant to spy on the Trump campaign. I have confidence that they will get their answers to all of these questions sooner rather than later.

President Trump Tells Aides He Does Not Want U.S. War With Iran

Posted: 16 May 2019 07:09 PM PDT



Daily Mail: 'I hope not': Trump's short response when he is asked if there will be war with Iran before meeting with president of Switzerland, whose country has been a backchannel to the mullahs before

* Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday his country doesn't seek war with America
* Khamenei also said that Iran would not negotiate another nuclear deal
* President Trump pulled out of the 2015 Iran agreement that was aimed at curbing Islamic Republic's nuclear program
* Washington deployed an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Middle East on Sunday as the White House warned of a mounting threat from Tehran
* U.S. military later blamed Iran for sabotaging four commercial oil vessels off the shore of the United Arab Emirates
* Trump said Thursday that he hopes the conflict doesn't lead to war, saying as he waited for the Swiss President: 'I hope not'

Donald Trump expressed optimism Thursday that U.S. and Iran are not barreling toward a military conflict with one another.

Trump was awaiting the Swiss president when he made the comment, in response to a shouted question from a nearby reporter.

'I hope not,' he replied from the door of the West Wing as the motorcade of Swiss Confederation President Ueli Maurer arrived at the White House.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: He has also made it clear to the Pentagon that he does not want war .... Trump Tells Pentagon Chief He Does Not Want War With Iran (The New York Times). More here .... Trump told U.S. defense chief: no war with Iran: N.Y. Times (Reuters). But as I have said many times before. You may not want war, but war wants you.

More News On President Trump Telling Aides He Does Not Want U.S. War With Iran

Trump tells aides he does not want U.S. war with Iran -- Reuters
'Hope not,' Trump says when asked if the United States will go to war with Iran -- CNBC
Trump on war with Iran: 'I hope not' -- The Hill

U.S. Intelligence Community Blames The Trump Administration For Tensions With Iran

Posted: 16 May 2019 06:35 PM PDT

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani speaks during his visit to the shrine of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, south of Tehran, Iran, January 30, 2019. Official President website/Handout via REUTERS

Daily Mail: Trump Admin Moves Fueled Iran's Aggression, U.S. Intel Says

"Most of the activities that the Iranians are undertaking are in response to our very aggressive posture in the region," one member of the House Intelligence Committee said.

Trump administration hawks have spent the last two weeks decrying an increased threat from Iran. But U.S. intelligence officials assess that Iran's aggressive moves came in response to the administration's own actions.

Three U.S. government officials familiar with the situation told The Daily Beast that officials in multiple U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran's new, threatening activity–which the administration points to in justifying its military presence in the Persian Gulf–is in response to the administration's aggressive steps over the last two months. The National Security Council, the CIA, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence did not provide comment for this story.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Imposing new and comprehensive sanctions on Iran last year and designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group a few months ago was always going to guarantee a severe response from Tehran. And in turn the priority of the White House and its allies in the Middle East was to watch-out and prepare for that response, which they have. So why is everyone surprised? The fact is that no one is surprised. Iran is getting squeezed by sanctions, something that the leadership of Iran have openly confirmed on multiple occasions, and are responding because the people that they rule are getting restless. We are at that fork in the road, and the ball is in Iran's court. The question that now remains is .... what will they do next?

Guardian Exclusive: Iran's Top General Qassem Suleimani Told Iraqi Militias Three Weeks Ago To 'Prepare For Proxy War'

Posted: 16 May 2019 06:01 PM PDT

Iranian General Qassem Soleimani

The Guardian: Iran tells Middle East militias: prepare for proxy war

Exclusive: Top military leader delivers message at Baghdad meeting as tensions rise.

Iran's most prominent military leader has recently met Iraqi militias in Baghdad and told them to "prepare for proxy war", the Guardian has learned.

Two senior intelligence sources said that Qassem Suleimani, leader of Iran's powerful Quds force, summoned the militias under Tehran's influence three weeks ago, amid a heightened state of tension in the region. The move to mobilise Iran's regional allies is understood to have triggered fears in the US that Washington's interests in the Middle East are facing a pressing threat. The UK raised its threat levels for British troops in Iraq on Thursday.

While Suleimani has met regularly with leaders of Iraq's myriad Shia groups over the past five years, the nature and tone of this gathering was different. "It wasn't quite a call to arms, but it wasn't far off," one source said.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Wherever Qassem Suleimani goes conflicts follow. But he is also a secretive man, who does not publicize where he goes and what he says. Someone fed the Guardian this scoop. Your guess on who leaked this is as good as mine.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 16, 2019

Posted: 16 May 2019 05:41 PM PDT

Reuters

Mohammed Ayoob, National Interest: Is a Geostrategic Shift in the Middle East in the Offing?

Washington is doing itself a great disservice by alienating Ankara and Tehran simultaneously.

On the eve of the short-lived Arab Spring in January 2011 I wrote a story which argued that the "center of gravity in the Middle East has shifted dramatically in the past few decades from the Arab heartland comprising Egypt and the Fertile Crescent to what was once considered the non-Arab periphery—Turkey and Iran." That statement has continued to hold true despite the ups and downs in the regional politics of the Middle East. The moribund nature of Arab politics and the perpetuation of autocratic and kleptocratic rule have contributed in large measure to the diminution in the regional role of major Arab states such as Egypt. The civil wars following the Arab Spring have torn several Arab countries apart and even created failed states such as Syria, Libya, and Yemen. These wars have further marginalized the Arab world. Even Saudi Arabia, despite its fabulous oil wealth, is unable to exert adequate influence in the region because of its manifest dependence for security on the United States and the arrogant and eccentric nature of its regime.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 16, 2019

So, You Want to Invade Iran? Not recommended — Iraq was bad enough and Iran would be worse. -- Brandon J. Weichert, Spectator

Iran, please give Trump a call -- Jamsheed Choksy and Carol Choksy, CNN

Putin's ploy to turn Turkey steams ahead -- Alexander Kruglov, Asia Times

Peace Process Problem: There Is No Two-State Solution for Israel and Palestine -- Paul R. Pillar, National Interest

Trump didn't start this trade war, China did -- Marc Thiessen, FOX News

Another promise kept: Trump's toughness on China gives Potomac elites the vapors -- Charles Hurt, The Washington Times

On Rumors of a Chinese US Treasury Dump -- Fisher Investments Editorial Staff, Fisher Investments

Midterm massacre hands Duterte all the power -- Richard Javad Heydarian, Asia Times

The Philippines' Duterte: In pursuit of an imperial presidency -- Richard Javad Heydarian, Al Jazeera

Is democracy dead in Turkey? The re-run of Istanbul's mayoral race will tell -- Kemal KiriÅŸci, Brookings

Two Decades After the Fall of Milosevic, Dictatorship Is Returning to Serbia -- Aleks Eror, WPR

Eurovision 2019: Why these entrants in the song contest are generating controversy -- Yasmin Jeffery, ABC News Online

Jamaica's Extraordinary Economic Turnaround -- Axel Van Trotsenburg, Miami Herald

A Full Presidential Pardon -- Conrad Black, American Greatness

World News Briefs -- May 16, 2019 (Evening Edition)

Posted: 16 May 2019 03:47 PM PDT



Reuters: Trump says he hopes U.S. not going to war with Iran

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he hoped the United States was not heading to war with Iran as he met with Switzerland President Ueli Maurer, whose nation has served as a diplomatic conduit between the two countries.

Asked by reporters if Washington was going to war with Tehran, Trump responded, "Hope not" as he greeted Maurer at the White House.

Tensions have escalated in recent days with increasing concerns about a potential U.S.-Iran conflict. Earlier this week the United States pulled some diplomatic staff from its embassy in Baghdad following weekend attacks on four oil tankers in the Gulf.

Switzerland, a neutral country, has historically been a liaison between the United States and Iran, which have no diplomatic relations.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Trump told U.S. defense chief: no war with Iran: N.Y. Times.

Bomb-laden drones of Yemen rebels threaten Arabian Peninsula.

Saudis blame Iran for drone attack amid calls for US strikes.

Saudi coalition answers oil attacks with airstrikes in Yemen.

Iran calls US reimposition of sanctions 'unacceptable' as tensions escalate.

Iran showing 'maximum restraint,' US escalation 'unacceptable': Zarif.

Iraqi Airways to resume flights to Syria after 8-year break.

After fleeing bombs, Syrian families shelter in olive groves.

Born under IS, sick Iraqi children left undocumented, untreated.

UN calls on Qatar to reform workers rights, abolish death penalty.

IMF says Saudi budget deficit to hit seven percent of GDP in 2019.

ASIA

Nine killed in gun battles in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Philippines recalls envoys in Canada over trash shipments.

Taliban attack leaves 10 soldiers dead in southern Afghanistan.

Trump to visit South Korea in June for. talks with Moon.

Report: Seoul not ruling out Trump visit to Korean DMZ.

Steven Mnuchin expects to visit Beijing 'in near future' for US-China trade talks.

Who's coming when? Steven Mnuchin's trade talks travel plan is news to Beijing.

Report: U.S.-China trade war could hurt Japan, Taiwan firms.

China charges Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor with spying.

Bob Hawke: Australia's former PM dies at 89.

AFRICA

France's Macron to meet Libya's eastern commander Haftar next week: presidency.

Egypt's Sinai: At least 47 fighters, 5 troops killed in battle.

Death toll from Niger ambush rises to 28 soldiers killed: army.

Libya: UN-backed government defending capital from warlord Haftar now using drones on front lines.

Sudan military rulers suspend talks with protesters for 72 hours.

Libya: UN-backed government defending capital from warlord Haftar now using drones on front lines.

Kenyan al-Shabab returnees recount stories of pain and fear.

Security concerns as Mozambique grapples with cyclone.

Rwandans accused of 1999 tourist murders in Uganda secretly brought to Australia in deal with United States.

EUROPE

Ex-ETA leader Josu Ternera detained in France. Former Basque terrorist leader captured after 17 years on the run.

ETA's bloody history: 853 killings in 60 years of violence.

May agrees to set her exit date after Brexit bill vote.

Boris Johnson confirms bid for leadership of Conservative Party.

Merkel rules out top EU job after term as German chancellor ends.

Austria bans Muslim headscarf in primary schools.

Italy's Matteo Salvini investigated over use of police aircraft.

Overwhelming majority of Europeans predict EU collapse in coming decades - Poll.

AMERICAS

Trump pushes immigration plan favoring 'merit' over family.

Trump declares national emergency over threats against US technology amid campaign against Huawei.

Trump to meet with Swiss president amid tensions between US, Iran.

U.S. military to build 6 tent cities near border for migrants. DHS asks military to build six new tent cities at the southern border.

Venezuela says talking with "democratic" opposition in Norway. Mediation in Norway aims to resolve Venezuela crisis.

Rationing begins, as Cuba braces for economic impact from Venezuela crisis.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announces presidential bid.

Donald Trump pardons former media mogul Conrad Black, convicted of fraud in 2007.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Islamic State group claims deadly ambush on Niger soldiers.

UN sanctions Islamic State's Khorasan province, as jihadists claim operations in Kashmir and Pakistan.

U.S. declines to support global call to combat extremism online.

ISIL claims 'province' in India, officials call it 'propaganda'.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

US stock indexes extend winning streak to 3rd day.

EU fines Citigroup, JPMorgan, 3 other banks $1.2B for collusion.

US blacklists Huawei as Trump declares national emergency.

GozNym cyber-crime gang which stole millions busted.

British Prime Minister Theresa May Agrees To Set Her Departure Date As PM After The Next Brexit Vote

Posted: 16 May 2019 03:24 PM PDT



BBC: Theresa May agrees to set timetable to choose successor

Theresa May has promised to set a timetable for the election of her successor after the next Brexit vote in the first week of June.

The agreement follows a meeting between the prime minister and senior Tory MPs who are demanding a date for her departure from Downing Street.

If she loses the vote on her Brexit plan, already rejected three times, sources told the BBC she would resign.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has said he will run for leader once Mrs May goes.

The prime minister survived a confidence vote by Conservative MPs at the end of last year and party rules mean she cannot formally be challenged again until December.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The latest polls indicating that the Conservative Party would be annihilated in the next election is what probably prompted the Party leadership to tell Prime Minister May that it is now time to leave. But I still have to see it to believe it. As for the next Brexit vote, it will be defeated again.

More News On British Prime Minister Theresa May Agreeing To Set Her Departure Date As PM After The Next Brexit Vote

May to agree departure after latest Brexit deal bid -- Reuters
UK leader under pressure as rivals push for the end of May -- FOX News/AP
May agrees to set her exit date after Brexit bill vote -- The Guardian
Welcome to the last days of Theresa May -- CNN

China Finds A Way To Violate U.S. Sanctions On Iran

Posted: 16 May 2019 01:57 PM PDT

Refined products such as fuel oil were not covered by the temporary waivers granted on sanctions reintroduced last November. Photo: Reuters

SCMP/Reuters: Iranian fuel oil shipped in violation of US sanctions is unloaded in China, tracking data shows

* It was previously reported that some oil had evaded sanctions on petroleum exports by using ship-to-ship transfers involving four ships
* The unloading comes after US upped moves to choke off Iran's oil exports by scrapping waivers granted to big buyers including China

A tanker carrying Iranian fuel oil in violation of US sanctions has unloaded the cargo into storage tanks near the Chinese city of Zhoushan, according to ship tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon.

The discharging of the nearly 130,000 tonnes of Iranian fuel oil on board the tanker Marshal Z, confirmed by a representative of the oil storage terminal, marks the end of an odyssey for the cargo that began four months ago.

Reuters reported on March 20 that some Iranian fuel oil had managed to evade the United States' sanctions on petroleum exports by using ship-to-ship transfers involving four different ships, including the Marshal Z, and by using forged documents that masked the cargoes as originating from Iraq.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The White House was predicting this last month .... No wind-down for China on stopping its Iran oil buys: Trump officials (Reuters). As for the present, it should surprise no one that the Iranian foreign minister is travelling to China tomorrow .... Iran top diplomat to visit China on Friday: state media (France 24).

This Is What Will Be Necessary For The U.S. To Wage War Against Iran

Posted: 16 May 2019 01:32 PM PDT

The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), foreground, and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) conduct dual aircraft carrier strike group operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area. (Mass Communication Spec. 3rd Class Jake Greenberg/U.S. Navy)

Washington Examiner: Here's how you'll know we're about to go to war with Iran — right now, we're not

National security adviser John Bolton might be open to war with Iran. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo might also. But not so much President Trump, who has distanced himself from these top two advisers.

There is no good evidence that the Trump administration is preparing for war with Iran. Recent actions over the past two weeks to reduce the U.S. vulnerability to Iranian attacks are justified by intelligence reporting, Iran's ideology and track record, and the standing threat. But were the United States about to go to war with Iran we would see the following:

First, we would have to stage an extremely large air and naval force buildup in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf, for strike operations inside Iran and defeat of Iran's naval forces. We'd also have to do it in the Mediterranean Sea, to help defend Israel against Iranian ballistic missile attacks and to complicate Russian action via its Black Sea fleet.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: When I see a third of America's military might in the Middle East, that is when I will know that the U.S. is serious.

Iraq Is Caught In The Middle In The Current Crisis Between Iran And The U.S.

Posted: 16 May 2019 11:14 AM PDT



DW: Iraq walks Iran-US tightrope as tensions escalate

The United States claims militia with ties to Iran are planning attacks against its personnel in Iraq. Whether true or not, tensions between Iran and the US are putting Iraq in a tough position.

The United States on Wednesday ordered all non-essential American diplomatic personnel out of Iraq amid heightened tensions with Iran.

State Department officials cited an "imminent" threat to US personnel from Iraqi Shiite militias with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The Trump administration labeled the IRGC a terrorist group last month despite warnings that the move could endanger US personnel in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Iran subsequently labeled US Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, a terrorist organization.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This increase in tensions is already impacting Iraq .... The Exodus Begins As Foreign Oil Companies Exit Iraq On Security Concerns (OilPrice.com).

More News On Iraq Being Caught In The Middle In The Current Crisis Between Iran And The U.S.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq move rockets in range of U.S. troops: Report -- Washington Times
Iraq, Fearing Another U.S. War, Warns Militias Against Provocation -- The New York Times
Allies hunker down in Iraq, drop out over US tensions with Iran -- Military Times
Iraq has contingency plans in case Iran gas imports halted: minister -- Reuters

Saudi Arabia Blames Iran For Ordering Attacks On Saudi Oil Interests

Posted: 16 May 2019 11:03 AM PDT


The National: Saudi Arabia blames Iran for ordering pipeline attack as coalition strikes Sanaa

The strikes follow seven Houthi drone strikes on the Kingdom's oil infrastructure

Just hours after the Arab Coalition struck Houthi military targets in Sanaa, Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir directly blamed Iran for recent Houthi drone attacks on the kingdom's oil infrastructure.

Air strikes by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition struck nine military targets across the Houthi-rebel held Yemeni capital, in an apparent response to a Houthi drone attack on Saudi oil installations.

Mr Al Jubeir also said the Houthis are "an indivisible part of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and subject to the IRGC's orders," a connection he said was confirmed by the strikes on Saudi Aramco infrastructure.

Read more ....

Update: Saudis accuse Iran of ordering Yemen rebel oil attack (Daily Star).

WNU Editor: Some in Saudi Arabia want the U.S. to launch air strikes against Iran .... America 'should launch surgical strikes against Iran', says Saudi state newspaper as tensions spiral in the Middle East (Daily Mail). More here .... Saudi paper urges military strikes against Iran (Jerusalem Post). Not surprising, Iranian hardliners want to launch attacks against Saudi Arabia and the UAE ... Iranian Hardliners Suggest More Attacks On UAE And Saudi Interests (Radio Farda).

Saudi Arabia Launches Air Strikes Against The Houthi-held Yemeni Capital After Pipeline Attack

Posted: 16 May 2019 10:27 AM PDT





Middle East Eye: Saudi-led coalition air strikes rock Yemen's Sanaa after oil pipe attack

Warplanes struck the Houthi-held Yemeni capital on Thursday, two days after the rebels claimed drone strikes that shut a key oil pipeline in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government confirmed that its warplanes had bombed rebel targets.

"We have begun to launch air strikes targeting sites operated by the Houthi militia, including in Sanaa," a coalition official, who declined to be identified, told the AFP news agency.

Ahmed al-Shamiri, a resident of the al-Raqas neighbourhood hit by the coalition, was sleeping when an air strike targeted a house next to his home on Thursday morning.

Read more ....

More News On Saudi Arabia Launching Air Strikes Against Sanaa

Air strikes hit Yemen capital: rebels, witnesses -- AFP
Saudi-UAE coalition carries out deadly air raids on Yemen's Sanaa -- Al Jazeera
Saudi coalition answers oil attacks with airstrikes in Yemen -- UPI
Arab coalition strikes kill Houthi militia, destroys combat vehicles -- Arab News
New fighting in Yemen threatens UN deal -- The Guardian

The Pentagon Wants Funds To Repay The Taliban For Their Travel Expenses To The Peace Talks

Posted: 16 May 2019 10:18 AM PDT

Progress has been made with Taliban leaders to end the 17-year, $1 trillion US-led war [Maxim Shemetov/Reuters]

Business Insider: Trump administration reportedly wanted to use taxpayer dollars to repay the Taliban for their travel to peace talks

* The Department of Defense asked Congress for approval to use taxpayer dollars to reimburse the Taliban for travel expenses incurred attending peace talks with the US, Roll Call reported, citing a congressional official.
* Congress has reportedly not given the Pentagon approval to do so, as it would mean providing material support to a terrorist organization.
* The Taliban rakes an estimated $800 million a year selling narcotics and from other illicit activities.

The Trump administration asked Congress for funds to reimburse the Taliban for travel expenses incurred attending peace talks in Doha, Qatar, Roll Call reported Wednesday, citing a US official.

Earlier this year, the Department of Defense requested funding for fiscal year 2020 to "support certain reconciliation activities, including logistic support for members of the Taliban," Kevin Spicer, a spokesman for Rep. Peter Visclosky, an Indiana Democrat and chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, told Roll Call.

Read more ....

Update #1: Pentagon asked for funds to reimburse Taliban expenses: report (The Hill)
Update #2: Administration wants to reimburse Taliban's travel expenses (Roll Call)

WNU Editor: Am I the only who feels nauseated right now?

World News Briefs -- May 16, 2019

Posted: 16 May 2019 03:25 PM PDT



NBC: Trump administration's Iran threat claim disputed by foreign officials

"There's been no increased threat from Iranian backed forces in Iraq and Syria," British Maj. Gen. Chris Ghika said.

The Trump administration's claims that the threat of an attack by the Iranian regime on U.S. targets in the Middle East is increasing has been disputed by allies in Europe.

On Wednesday, the Department of State ordered all nonemergency government employees to leave its embassy in Baghdad and its consulate in Erbil, and advised Americans against traveling to Iraq. Earlier this month, national security adviser John Bolton said the U.S. was preparing for possible attacks by Iran or its proxies.

However, a British deputy commander in the global coalition against the Islamic State group contradicted the risk of an attack.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Saudi coalition answers oil attacks with airstrikes in Yemen.

Iran calls US reimposition of sanctions 'unacceptable' as tensions escalate.

Iran showing 'maximum restraint,' US escalation 'unacceptable': Zarif.

Iraqi Airways to resume flights to Syria after 8-year break.

Born under IS, sick Iraqi children left undocumented, untreated.

UN calls on Qatar to reform workers rights, abolish death penalty.

IMF says Saudi budget deficit to hit seven percent of GDP in 2019.

ASIA

Taliban attack leaves 10 soldiers dead in southern Afghanistan.

Trump to visit South Korea in June for talks with Moon.

Report: Seoul not ruling out Trump visit to Korean DMZ.

Steven Mnuchin expects to visit Beijing 'in near future' for US-China trade talks.

Who's coming when? Steven Mnuchin's trade talks travel plan is news to Beijing.

Report: U.S.-China trade war could hurt Japan, Taiwan firms.

China charges Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor with spying.

Bob Hawke: Australia's former PM dies at 89.

AFRICA

Egypt's Sinai: At least 47 fighters, 5 troops killed in battle.

Death toll from Niger ambush rises to 28 soldiers killed: army.

Libya: UN-backed government defending capital from warlord Haftar now using drones on front lines.

Sudan military rulers suspend talks with protesters for 72 hours.

Libya: UN-backed government defending capital from warlord Haftar now using drones on front lines.

Kenyan al-Shabab returnees recount stories of pain and fear.

Security concerns as Mozambique grapples with cyclone.

Rwandans accused of 1999 tourist murders in Uganda secretly brought to Australia in deal with United States.

EUROPE

Ex-ETA leader Josu Ternera detained in France. Former Basque terrorist leader captured after 17 years on the run.

May agrees to set her exit date after Brexit bill vote.

Boris Johnson confirms bid for leadership of Conservative Party.

Merkel rules out top EU job after term as German chancellor ends.

Austria bans Muslim headscarf in primary schools.

Italy's Matteo Salvini investigated over use of police aircraft.

Overwhelming majority of Europeans predict EU collapse in coming decades - Poll.

AMERICAS

Trump declares national emergency over threats against US technology amid campaign against Huawei.

Trump to meet with Swiss president amid tensions between US, Iran.

U.S. military to build 6 tent cities near border for migrants. DHS asks military to build six new tent cities at the southern border.

Venezuela says talking with "democratic" opposition in Norway.

Rationing begins, as Cuba braces for economic impact from Venezuela crisis.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announces presidential bid.

Donald Trump pardons former media mogul Conrad Black, convicted of fraud in 2007.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

UN sanctions Islamic State's Khorasan province, as jihadists claim operations in Kashmir and Pakistan.

U.S. declines to support global call to combat extremism online.

ISIL claims 'province' in India, officials call it 'propaganda'.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

EU fines Citigroup, JPMorgan, 3 other banks $1.2B for collusion.

US blacklists Huawei as Trump declares national emergency.

GozNym cyber-crime gang which stole millions busted.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 16, 2019

Posted: 16 May 2019 09:23 AM PDT



Forbes: Iran's Military Warns Of Imminent 'Full-Scale Confrontation' With 'American-Zionist Front'

"We are on the cusp of a full-scale confrontation with the enemy," claimed hardliner Hossein Salami, the recently appointed head of Iran's IRGC on Wednesday. "This moment in history, because the enemy has stepped into the field of confrontation with us with all the possible capacity, is the most decisive moment of the Islamic revolution."

Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's Defense Minister also clearly decided that there had not been any incendiary public statements for 24-hours, and so he announced that Iran will "defeat the American-Zionist front," adding that "today, the Islamic Republic of Iran stands at the peak of defense-military preparedness to counter any threat or act of aggression."

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 16, 2019

We Need to Talk About Iran's Missiles (They Could Strike the U.S. Navy) -- National Interest

The only successful missile attack on a US warship was 32 years ago, and it was an Iraqi sucker punch -- Business Insider/We Are The Mighty

Photos of Iranian missiles sparked US response in Gulf: report -- The Hill

US allies are getting spooked over the US's claims of an Iranian threat -- AP

Allies hunker down in Iraq, drop out over US tensions with Iran -- Military Times

UK Raises Threat Level for Troops in Iraq Over Alleged Risk From Iran - Reports -- Sputnik

Foreign Relations senators demand Iran briefing -- The Hill

Allies Brush Off U.S. Warnings About Iran As Legislators Spar Over Threat Intel (Updated) -- Warzone/The Drive

US Navy Wary of Growing Costs While It Ramps Up Ops -- Breaking Defense

Navy Planning Aggressive Unmanned Ship Prototyping, Acquisition Effort -- USNI News

Defense firm's 'excess profits' land in Congress's crosshairs -- Defense News

Pentagon supplier TransDigm Group had 'predatory approach': official -- Reuters

House panel advances $690B Pentagon spending bill that limits border wall efforts -- The Hill

For Shanahan, it looks like a rocky road to defense secretary -- Defense News

House committee limits Space Development Agency funding, asks for detailed plans -- UPI

Air Force No. 2 civilian to take over as acting secretary -- The Hill

This monstrous new 80-ton robotic battlefield bulldozer will keep US troops out of the 'most dangerous place on the planet' -- Business Insider

Dynetics-Lockheed team beats out Raytheon to build 100-kilowatt laser weapon -- Defense News

Has The U.S. Military Created A Small Class Of Killers? -- National Interest/Task & Purpose

US naval chief says 'freedom of navigation' exercises in South China Sea get more attention than they deserve -- SCMP

Families of Killed, Injured Troops Sue Contractor over Bagram 'Fun Run' Bombing -- Military.com

British Army down thousands of soldiers after outsourcing recruitment IT to Capita -- The Register

New UK defense chief draws a line in the sand on military funding -- Defense News

UK military prosecutions: 'Unfair' investigations to be barred -- BBC

UK Warship Escorts Russian Missile Destroyer Through English Channel -- Sputnik

'Paralyzer' Laser Drones Developed for the Russian Military – Reports -- Moscow Times

Confidential Data on New Russian Satellites LEAKED Online -- Sputnik

Israeli navy tests unmanned sonar mine-sweeping vessel -- UPI

Ex-Israeli Army Chief Warns of Dangerous Security Crisis With Palestinians -- Haaretz

Peru's military tries to curb illegal gold mining in Amazon -- National Post/AP

India Prunes Purchase of 22 American Sea Guardian Drones - Source -- Sputnik

A Look At How Taliban Fighters Successfully Infiltrated A Vital Afghan Army Base

Posted: 16 May 2019 07:57 AM PDT

Afghan soldiers being trained by Americans at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province in 2016.CreditCreditAdam Ferguson for The New York Times

New York Times: Spies, Stealth and Threats: How Militants Infiltrated a Vital Army Base

KABUL, Afghanistan — Some Taliban fighters hid inside a sewage tanker truck, hoping the smelly interior would prevent a close inspection — as it did. They rode it into one of the most important military bases in Afghanistan and then hid in an empty warehouse.

Other insurgents used ladders to climb the fences, scaling two sets of them, to cross a no man's land that had once been protected by motion detectors and infrared cameras but now had only sleepy guards in watchtowers.

The infiltrators had friends in high places, as well, according to Afghan and American military officials: an Afghan lieutenant colonel and a sergeant major who made sure they knew where to go, and where to hide on the sprawling base.

The ensuing attack on Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, on March 1, was not one of the country's deadliest, but it may well have been its most embarrassing. It was the third time the Taliban had infiltrated that base, the headquarters for the Afghan Army's 215th Corps.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: When you have an Afghan lieutenant colonel and a sergeant major assisting the enemy, you know you have a serious problem. The above New York Times report is a sobering reminder on why the Afghan war continues to grind on, and the limitations of the Afghan military to stop it.

China Formally Arrests Two Canadians For Spying

Posted: 16 May 2019 07:40 AM PDT





CBC/Reuters: China formally arrests Spavor and Kovrig, accuses them of spying

Michael Spavor, Michael Kovrig have been detained in China for months

Chinese authorities have formally arrested two Canadians and are accusing them of crimes related to national security, likely further increasing tension between Ottawa and Beijing.

Businessman Michael Spavor, who worked with North Korea, and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were picked up separately in December, shortly after Canada arrested Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver. She now faces extradition to the United States.

China has repeatedly demanded Meng be released, and has reacted angrily to extradition proceedings against her in a Canadian court.

Under Chinese law, officials can detain people for up to six months, meaning Beijing had until June 10 to act.

Read more ....

Update #1: China charges detained Canadians with espionage hours after U.S. bans Huawei (National Post/Washington Post)
Update #2: China formally arrested Canadians detained for months following Huawei CFO's arrest in December (Toronto Star)

WNU Editor: Canada's response to differences with China has been to minimize it .... Canada will take 'measured approach' on possible U.S. ban of Huawei: Morneau (Global News). As a Canadian who has a long history with China I think this is a mistake, and it sends the wrong message to Beijing. If I was advising the Canadian government, I will be telling them that these Canadians are not going to be released, that they are going to be in jail for years, and that normal diplomacy is not going to work. Now is the time to take the gloves off, and these are steps that should be employed in a timely manner. The first thing that I would do is expel the Chinese Ambassador to Canada (the same Ambassador who accused Canada of "white supremacy"), and to severely limit Beijing's diplomatic staff in Canada. I would also expel every Chinese national in Canada who is suspected of working for China's state security apparatus, a list of individuals that I would not be surprised if Canada already has. The second thing that I would advise Ottawa is to ban Huawei and other related Chinese technology companies. The third thing that I would recommend is putting tariffs on Chinese products, and to limit Chinese work visas. The fourth and last thing will be to raise this issue in every international forum, and to position the Chinese in losing face. Will be there be blow-back from China .... the answer is yes. But if Canada cannot stand on principles that it values, and protect Canadian citizens abroad, then what do we stand for?

Venezuela's Oil Production Has Collapsed

Posted: 16 May 2019 07:06 AM PDT


OilPrice.com: Putin Could Cut His Loss As Venezuelan Oil Output Nosedives

Venezuela's oil production held up last month, but appears to be falling off a cliff once again.

Output in Venezuela rebounded a bit in April, following the horrific electricity blackouts that rocked the country the month before. Production rose to 768,000 bpd in April, up a modest 28,000 bpd, ending a long string of monthly losses. The data would appear to be positive for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who managed to fend off a coup attempt in late April and early May.

However, the uptick in production may only amount to a temporary reprieve, with outside pressure, led by U.S. sanctions, continuing to choke the country.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: No one is buying Venezuelan oil. And with limited storage facilities and no tankers showing up to pick up any oil, production facilities will need to shut down. This is what is going to end the Maduro regime. No oil means no money. And with no money Venezuela's importance to countries like Russia or Cuba becomes limited to a political one, not an economic one. But the real impact will be in Venezuela itself. The government will no longer be able to pay its important employees and supporters, and if the government cannot support its base it will be only a question of time before their loyalty will shift to the opposition. I give it another year (if not sooner) before that happens.

Talks Between The Venezuelan Government And The Opposition Are Currently Underway In Oslo, Norway

Posted: 16 May 2019 06:52 AM PDT

A man waves a Venezuelan national flag as he attends a rally by Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in support of his government [File: Fausto Torrealba/Reuters]

Daily Mail/AP: Venezuela peace negotiations are held in Norway as Maduro's regime and Guaido's opposition meet in 'secret location' in Oslo

* Negotiators from the opposing camps have spoken in Oslo 'for several days'
* Assembly speaker Juan Guaidó declared himself acting president in January
* Nicolas Maduro had taken power in 2013 after death of Hugo Chavez and had controversial second term Presidential vote in 2018
* Several countries including the US have recognised Guaidó as president

Representatives of Venezuela's regime and the opposition are holding 'peace negotiations' in Oslo this week, Norwegian media reported Thursday.

Venezuela has been in political turmoil since assembly speaker Juan Guaidó declared himself acting president in January in a direct challenge to President Nicolas Maduro's authority.

The NRK radio and television network, quoting anonymous sources, said peace talks have taken place at a secret location in the Norwegian capital for 'several days' and are expected to conclude on Thursday.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This talks are being described as "exploratory". It is also the second time that both sides are meeting. As to what do I expect from these talks. I expect nothing will come out of it for now.

More News On Talks Between The Venezuelan Government And The Opposition

The Latest: Venezuela gov't, opposition in Norway for talks -- AP
Venezuela government, opposition in Norway for crucial talks -- Al Jazeera
Maduro's minister secretly meets with Guaido's representative STALIN in Norway – reports -- RT
Venezuela government, opposition representatives travel to Norway for possible talks -- CGTN
Venezuela envoys head for talks in Norway as US halts flights -- DW
Venezuelan Gov't, Opposition Looking for Ways to Reconcile in Norway - Source -- Sputnik

The Transcript Of The Pilots Talking Through Their Creation Of A 'Sky Penis' Is Better Than their Drawing

Posted: 16 May 2019 06:02 AM PDT

Social media reaction to the Navy's sky penis.

Task & Purpose: The transcript of the pilots talking through their creation of 'sky dong' is even better than their drawing

It's long been known that two Navy pilots were behind the infamous "sky dick" episode of 2017, but thanks to Geoff Ziezulewicz at Navy Times, we have a cockpit transcript of the ballsy pair of aviators as they formulated and then executed their flight into military aviation history.

"Draw a giant penis. That would be awesome," the electronic warfare officer told the pilot after they had finished a training flight near Naval Air Station Whidbey Island on Nov. 16, 2017, according to a report of the investigation into the incident obtained by Navy Times.

The investigation, thankfully, included the in-flight conversation from a video recording system in the aircraft, and it is absolutely hilarious.

"What did you do on your flight?" the pilot joked in response to the EWO's suggestion. "Oh, we turned dinosaurs into sky penises."

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Some people have way too much time on their hands.

More News On The Transcript Of The Pilots Talking Through Their Creation Of A 'Sky Penis'

The Navy's probe into sky penis -- Navy Times
Navy Officers Behind Viral Sky Penis Joked That It 'Would Be So Funny' Before Investigation, Reprimand -- Newsweek
Two pilots heard laughing as they drew a large penis in the sky disciplined by Navy -- Yahoo News
2 Navy fliers had a detailed discussion about drawing a giant penis in the sky over Washington, and it was all caught on radio -- Business Insider/Military Times
The Legendary Saga of the Navy Sky Dong Concludes -- Popular Mechanics

This Will Be The Mission For China's Aircraft Carriers

Posted: 16 May 2019 05:42 AM PDT

China's aircraft carrier Liaoning takes part in a military drill of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the western Pacific Ocean, April 18, 2018.

VOA: Beijing Readies 2 New Aircraft Carriers

TAIPEI — The deployment this year of a second aircraft carrier and construction of a third will allow China to position one of the carriers in the contested South China Sea, maritime policy experts believe.

A carrier known only as Type 001 has been tested in China for formal use by September. Another is being built for a launch in 2022, the China Power Project of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a May 7 research note.

China is likely to base one carrier in the South China Sea, position one in the East China Sea, and let the third travel the world, said Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

"I don't think that they will actually go attack people, but of course just the show of force is quite impressive," he said.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Chinese strategy and policy on what will be the mission for its aircraft carriers is very straight forward. To deploy one in the South China Sea, one in the East China Sea, one to travel around the world, and another (which will probably be announced in the next year or two), to serve as a back-up.

World News, World News Updates, World News Headlines, Latest World News, Current Affairs

Posted: 17 May 2019 02:40 AM PDT

World News, World News Updates, World News Headlines, Latest World News, Current Affairs


U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May Says She’ll Issue a Timetable for Her Departure Next Month

Posted: 17 May 2019 01:38 AM PDT

(LONDON) — British Prime Minister Theresa May fended off pressure Thursday from Conservative Party lawmakers demanding that she set a date for her resignation, buying herself a few more weeks to try to unblock Britain’s Brexit impasse.

But she agreed to give a timetable next month for her departure, raising the prospect that Britain will get a new prime minister before it leaves the European Union — currently scheduled for Oct. 31.

Leaders of a powerful committee that oversees Conservative leadership contests met May to express growing frustration in party ranks at her refusal to name an exit date following her failure to take Britain out of the EU by the original Brexit date of March 29.

Members of the body, known as the 1922 Committee, have threatened May with a leadership challenge if she does not step down.

Committee chairman Graham Brady said after the “frank” meeting that May wanted to defer naming her departure date until Parliament votes on her Brexit bill in the week of June 3.

“Following that … she and I will meet to agree a timetable for the election of a new leader of the Conservative Party,” Brady said.

May’s 10 Downing St. office said Brady spoke with the prime minister’s agreement, and insisted May remained focused “on securing our departure from the EU” by getting backing for her EU divorce deal.

May’s successor will be chosen by a party leadership contest in which any Conservative lawmaker can run. The winner will become party leader and prime minister without the need for a general election.

May survived a no-confidence vote among party colleagues in December, and under Conservative rules she can’t face another challenge until a year has passed. Some lawmakers have been pressing for a change to those rules to allow a new vote on May’s leadership as soon as June.

Pro-Brexit Conservatives are furious that Britain has not yet left the EU, almost three years after voters backed Brexit in a referendum. Many blame May for the impasse and want her replaced with a more staunchly pro-Brexit leader such as the former foreign secretary, Boris Johnson.

Johnson told a business event Thursday that “of course I’m going to go for it” when the contest to replace May as Conservative leader is formally launched. Several members of May’s Cabinet have also started unofficial leadership campaigns.

May points out that she struck a divorce deal with the EU, but it has been rejected by Parliament three times, even by many of the same lawmakers who backed Brexit in the referendum.

May has said she will resign once a Brexit deal is approved and make way for a new leader to guide the U.K. through the next stage in the process, which will determine the country’s future relationship with the EU.

The U.K.’s departure from the EU, long set for March 29, has been delayed until Oct. 31 while British politicians try to break the deadlock.

May plans to make a fourth attempt to get lawmakers’ backing for Brexit terms by putting a withdrawal agreement bill to a vote in early June. She says that if it passes, Britain could leave the EU in July, well before the October deadline set by the bloc.

But it’s unclear how the government plans to persuade a majority of lawmakers to back May’s EU divorce terms, since few legislators on either side of the Brexit divide seem prepared to change their positions.

Weeks of talks between the government and the opposition Labour Party have failed to produce a compromise agreement.

“I’d have thought it was patently clear that if the prime minister’s deal is put for a fourth time, if it’s allowed, it will fail just as it has failed three times already,” said Labour Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer.

President Trump Is Sounding More Cautious on Iran Than His Top Advisers

Posted: 17 May 2019 01:04 AM PDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he hopes the U.S. is not on a path to war with Iran amid fears that his two most hawkish advisers could be angling for such a conflict with the Islamic Republic.Asked Thursday if the U.S. was going to war with Iran, the president replied, “I hope not” — a day after he repeated a desire for dialogue, tweeting, “I’m sure that Iran will want to talk soon.”The tone contrasted with a series of moves by the U.S. and Iran that have sharply escalated tensions in the Middle East in recent days. For the past year, national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have been the public face of the administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.

The friction has rattled lawmakers who are demanding more information on the White House’s claims of rising Iranian aggression. Top leaders in Congress received a classified briefing on Iran Thursday, but many other lawmakers from both parties have criticized the White House for not keeping them informed.

Iran poses a particular challenge for Trump. While he talks tough against foreign adversaries to the delight of his supporters, a military confrontation with Iran could make him appear to be backtracking on a campaign pledge to keep America out of foreign entanglements.

Lawmakers and allies, however, worry that any erratic or miscalculated response from Trump could send the U.S. careening into conflict.

Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal last year and reinstated sanctions on Tehran that are crippling its economy.

Tensions rose dramatically May 5, when Bolton announced that the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group would be rushed from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf ahead of schedule in response to “a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings,” without going into details.

Since then, four oil tankers, including two belonging to Saudi Arabia, were targeted in an apparent act of sabotage off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, according to officials in the region, and a Saudi pipeline was attacked by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen. The U.S. also ordered non-essential staff out of Iraq and has dispatched additional military assets to the region.

The Senate will receive a classified briefing on Iran on Tuesday, according to Jim Risch of Idaho, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. The House has requested a classified briefing as well.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said briefings are necessary because informing leaders “is no substitute for the full membership of the Congress.” She said a failure to inform lawmakers is “part of a pattern” for the Trump administration “that is not right,” because the power to declare war resides with Congress.

“I hope that the president’s advisers recognize that they have no authorization to go forward in any way” against Iran, Pelosi said.

Trump has dismissed suggestions that any of his advisers, particularly Bolton, are pushing him into a conflict.

“John has strong views on things, but that’s OK. I actually temper John, which is pretty amazing isn’t it?” Trump said recently when asked if he was satisfied with Bolton’s advice. “I have different sides. I mean, I have John Bolton, and I have other people that are a little more dovish than him. And ultimately I make the decision.”

Mark Dubowitz, an advocate of a hardline policy toward Iran and chief executive of the Federation for Defense of Democracies, said, “Trump is smart to let these advisers play the roles they play and it really does help him lay the table for negotiation, but ultimately, it comes back to his ability to oversee a negotiation and do so wisely and judiciously, and that’s an open question.”

Tensions started to spiral last year when Trump pulled out of a deal the U.S. and other world powers signed with Iran during the Obama administration. The deal lifted economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbing of its nuclear program.

Trump agreed with critics of the deal that it didn’t address Tehran’s work on ballistic missiles or its support of militant groups around the region. His administration reinstated sanctions that had been lifted under the deal — the Europeans and other signatories are still in it — and has piled on more.

Trita Parsi, an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University who advised the Obama administration on Iran, thinks the Iranians are trying to exploit Trump and Bolton’s divergence on foreign policy issues.

He cited a recent tweet from Hessamoddin Ashena, an adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, directed squarely at Trump and Bolton, who is easily recognized in public by his white, bushy mustache.

“You wanted a better deal with Iran. Looks like you are going to get a war instead. That’s what happens when you listen to the mustache,” the Iranian adviser said.

____

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

Taiwan Has Approved Same-Sex Marriage in a First for Asia

Posted: 16 May 2019 11:30 PM PDT

(TAIPEI, Taiwan) — Taiwan’s legislature voted Friday to legalize same-sex marriage, a first in Asia and a boost for LGBT rights activists who had championed the cause for two decades.

Lawmakers pressured by LGBT groups as well as church organizations opposed to the move approved most of a government-sponsored bill that recognizes same-sex marriages and gives couples many of the tax, insurance and child custody benefits available to male-female married couples.

That makes Taiwan the first place in Asia with a comprehensive law both allowing and laying out the terms of same-sex marriage.

“It’s a breakthrough, I have to say so. I could not imagine that could happen in just a few years,” said Shiau Hong-chi, professor of gender studies and communications management at Shih-Hsin University in Taiwan.

“#Taiwan’s action today should sound a clarion call, kicking off a larger movement across #Asia to ensure equality for LGBT people and pro-active protection of their rights by governments throughout the region,” Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter. “No more excuses!”

Thousands of people, including same-sex couples, demonstrated Friday morning in the rainy streets outside parliament before the vote. Many carried rainbow-colored placards reading “the vote cannot fail.” About 50 opponents sat under a tent outside parliament and gave speeches favoring marriage between only men and women.

Taiwan’s Constitutional Court in May 2017 said the constitution allows same-sex marriages and gave parliament two years to adjust laws accordingly.

The court order mobilized LGBT advocacy groups pushing for fair treatment, as well as opponents among church groups and advocates of traditional Chinese family values that stress the importance of marriage and producing offspring.

Religion, conservative values and political systems that discourage LGBT activism have stopped momentum toward same-sex marriage in many Asian countries from Japan through much of Southeast Asia, although Thailand is exploring the legalization of same-sex civil partnerships.

Taiwan’s acceptance of gay and lesbian relationships began in the 1990s when leaders in today’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party championed the cause to help Taiwan stand out in Asia as an open society.

Although claimed by China as its own territory, Taiwan is a self-governing democracy with a vibrant civil society dedicated to promoting rights for sexual and ethnic minorities, women, the handicapped and others.

Ruled by the authoritarian Communist Party, China remains much more conservative and officials have repeatedly discouraged even the discussion of legalizing same-sex marriage.

Opponents in Taiwan raised fears of incest, insurance scams and children confused by having two mothers or two fathers. Both sides of the issue have held colorful street demonstrations and lobbied lawmakers.

In November 2018, a majority of Taiwan voters rejected same-sex marriage in an advisory referendum. However, legislators favoring the bill, and voting separately on each item largely along party lines, said it followed the law as well as the spirit of the referendum.

A Leader of the Basque Militant Group ETA Has Been Arrested After 17 Years on the Run

Posted: 16 May 2019 07:31 PM PDT

(SALLANCHES, France) — A longtime chief of the Basque militant separatist group ETA was arrested Thursday in a French Alps town after being on the run for 17 years, Spanish authorities said, proudly announcing the capture of a man accused of crimes against humanity.

José Antonio Urruticoetxea Bengoetxea, known by the alias Josu Ternera, has been the most wanted ETA member since 2002. Interpol, the global police body, had issued a red alert against him. Spanish authorities also accuse him of multiple killings and belonging to a terrorist organization.

ETA, whose initials stand for “Basque Homeland and Freedom” in the Basque language, killed more than 850 people during its decades-long violent campaign to create an independent state in northern Spain and southern France. The militant group gave up its arms in 2017 and disbanded last year after being weakened by a sustained police effort to dismantle its operations and arrest its leaders.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said Ternera’s arrest took place early Thursday in Sallanches, a town of 16,000 in the French Alps, with both French intelligence services and Spanish Civil Guard agents taking part. Spanish authorities said Ternera, 69, had been living near Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, a French winter sports haven close to the borders of France, Switzerland and Italy.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said Ternera was arrested by France’s domestic intelligence service DGSI, based on a 2017 French conviction in absentia for involvement in a terrorist group. That verdict carried a sentence of eight years in prison and barred him from French territory.

Police took Ternera to the courthouse in nearby Bonneville, where he appeared before a French judge who approved having him remain in custody. Police then marched out Ternera — with a hood covering his head — into an unmarked police car to go to the Bonneville prison.

Prosecutors said he will be brought before the Paris prosecutor’s office on Friday. Since he was convicted in absentia, Ternera has the right to request a new trial. Bonneville prosecutor Patrice Guigon said Ternera had a lawyer in Paris, but did not identify the attorney.

Guigon said Ternera had been in the region “for at least several days.” He said he was seen Thursday by a doctor for an unspecified “medical problem” but the condition was not so severe as to keep him out of prison.

Spain will ask France to extradite Ternera to stand trial for his alleged crimes before he completes his prison sentence there, according to Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

“The arrest of Josu Ternera has been a maximum priority,” Grande-Marlaska said. “The collaboration and cooperation with French police and courts has been a decisive element in this victory of the rule of law over the ETA terrorist organization.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the end of the ETA showed that “our commitment against terrorism and for a peaceful coexistence of all people is eternal.”

Carmen Ladrón de Guevara, a lawyer representing an association of ETA’s victims, told The Associated Press in Madrid that Ternera was a “macabre symbol.”

“He is one of the most symbolic members of ETA,” Ladrón de Guevara said. “I started to receive calls from the victims early this morning and one of them told me: ‘Finally.'”

Ternera’s voice was identified as one of the two ETA members who read a statement announcing the group’s dismantling on audio recordings released on May 3, 2018, capping decades of the militants’ involvement in bombings, slayings and attacks.

Investigators have tracked Ternera’s links to ETA since its violent activities shot it to international prominence in the 1970s. Ternera was one of the negotiators who sat down with Spanish government envoys for talks to try to end the group’s activities in the mid-2000s.

He went on to become a lawmaker in the Basque regional parliament but went into hiding in late 2002 after Spain’s Supreme Court summoned him for his alleged involvement in a bomb attack on the barracks of the Civil Guard in Zaragoza that killed 11 people, including six minors. In homage to those victims, investigators dubbed the mission to arrest Ternera “Operation Stolen Childhood.”

Spanish courts are seeking him for his alleged part in that massacre, as well as for allegedly being involved in the killing of businessman Luis Maria Hergueta Guinea in 1980.

In response to Thursday’s arrest, the elected leader of the Basque Country region in northern Spain, Iñigo Urkullu, said Basque society had moved past its painful past.

“Basque society is moving toward the future … but with a critical view toward its past and a commitment in the present and future to respect human rights and pluralism,” Urkullu said.

Saudi Arabia is Blaming Iran for a Drone Attack Amid Calls for U.S. Strikes

Posted: 16 May 2019 07:07 PM PDT

(DUBAI, United Arab Emirates) — Saudi Arabia accused Tehran of being behind a drone strike that shut down a key oil pipeline in the kingdom, and a newspaper close to the palace called for Washington to launch “surgical” strikes on Iran, raising the specter of escalating tensions as the U.S. boosts its military presence in the Persian Gulf.

Concerns about possible conflict have flared after the U.S. dispatched warships and bombers to the region to counter an alleged but unspecified threat from Iran. There also have been allegations that four oil tankers were sabotaged Sunday off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, and Iran-aligned rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack on the Saudi pipeline.

The fears have grown out of President Donald Trump’s decision last year to withdraw the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers and impose wide-reaching sanctions — the latest levied as recently as last week — that have crippled Iran’s economy.

Saudi Prince Khalid bin Salman, who is King Salman’s son and the country’s deputy defense minister, tweeted that the drone attack on two Saudi Aramco pumping stations running along the East-West pipeline were “ordered by the regime in Tehran, and carried out by the Houthis” — a reference to the Yemeni rebel group.

A state-aligned Saudi newspaper went further, running an editorial calling for “surgical” U.S. strikes on Iran in retaliation. Iran has been accused by the U.S. and the U.N. of supplying ballistic missile technology and arms to the Houthis, which Tehran denies.

The front-page editorial in the Arab News, published in English, said it’s “clear that (U.S.) sanctions are not sending the right message” and that “they must be hit hard,” without elaborating on specific targets. It said the Trump administration had already set a precedent with airstrikes in Syria, when the government there was suspected of using chemical weapons.

Ali Shihabi, who runs the Saudi-leaning Arabia Foundation in Washington, said there’s a sense that if the Iranians can get away with targeting Saudi oil infrastructure, then “the whole security infrastructure in the Gulf will be called into question and security premiums on oil will rise.”

He said it would seem that Riyadh would like to coordinate with Washington how it responds to Iran, but “eventually what may happen is that just Saudi Arabia and the UAE may have to do something.”

“Nobody is going to start a war with them (Iran), but I think they should be defanged and, you know, things like their naval capabilities, things like their missile capabilities should be downgraded at least to make their capacity to inflict such dangerous activity more painful, more costly,” Shihabi said.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also is defense minister and controls major levers of power in the Sunni kingdom, has not commented publicly on this week’s incidents. In a Saudi TV interview in 2017, he said the kingdom knows it is a main target of Shiite Iran and there is no room for dialogue with Tehran.

A top Emirati diplomat said late Wednesday the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen would “retaliate hard” for attacks on civilian targets, without elaborating.

However, Anwar Gargash also said the UAE is “very committed to de-escalation” after the alleged sabotage of the tankers off the country’s coast. He declined to blame Iran directly, although he repeatedly criticized Tehran.

In response to the oil pipeline attack, the coalition said it launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, killing at least six people, including four children. At least 40 other people were wounded, according to Yemen’s Health Ministry.

Residents of Sanaa scrambled to pull wounded people from the rubble of a building hit by the airstrikes. Fawaz Ahmed told The Associated Press he saw three bodies — a man, a woman and a child, all buried together.

The coalition, which includes the UAE, has been at war with the Houthis since 2015, carrying out near-daily airstrikes. The pipeline attack marked one of the rebels’ deepest and most significant drone strikes inside Saudi territory since the conflict began.

Washington already has warned shipping companies that “Iran or its proxies” could be targeting maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf region and said it deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers there to counter the threat.

Last week, U.S. officials said they had detected signs of Iranian preparations for potential attacks on U.S. forces and interests in the Middle East but did not provide any evidence to back up the claims.

The U.S. State Department has ordered all nonessential government staff to leave its embassy and consulate in Iraq. Germany and the Netherlands both suspended their military assistance programs in the country in the latest sign of tensions.

Iraq is home to powerful pro-Iranian militias, while also hosting more than 5,000 U.S. troops. The U.S. military’s Central Command said its troops were on high alert, without elaborating.

European nations have urged the U.S. and Iran to show restraint. Also, a senior British officer in the U.S.-backed coalition fighting the Islamic State group, Maj. Gen. Chris Ghika, said earlier this week that there had been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria. His comments exposed international skepticism over the U.S. military buildup.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said during a visit to Tokyo that Iran has the right to respond to the “unacceptable” U.S. sanctions, but has exercised “maximum restraint.”

Speaking about Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, Zarif was quoted as also saying: “A multilateral deal cannot be treated unilaterally.”

Iran recently said it would resume enriching uranium at higher levels if a new nuclear deal is not reached by July 7. That would potentially bring it closer to being able to develop a nuclear weapon, something Iran insists it has never sought.

Negotiations in Norway Aim to Resolve Venezuela’s Political Crisis

Posted: 16 May 2019 06:53 PM PDT

(CARACAS, Venezuela) — Diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving Venezuela’s crisis accelerated on Thursday as the government and opposition sent envoys to talks in Norway, though the two sides’ mutual mistrust and differences on key issues could prevent any quick solution.

The Norwegian attempt to mediate comes amid tensions that exploded in street violence when the opposition called in vain for a military uprising on April 30.

Details about the closely guarded process, including whether direct talks between envoys from opposing camps were on the agenda, were scarce. Norway, in a foreign ministry statement, confirmed that it had preliminary contacts with Venezuelan envoys and that it was ready to continue supporting efforts for a peaceful solution.

The initiative coincides with other outreach efforts: Opposition leader Juan Guaidó said in Caracas that he planned to meet a delegation from a mostly European group of nations, and Venezuelan television showed Maduro meeting separately with the same delegation from the International Contact Group.

Also, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland met in Havana with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, who tweeted that Cuba was prepared to contribute to dialogue on Venezuela.

The myriad diplomatic efforts reflect a recognition in Venezuela that neither side has been able to prevail in the struggle for power, leaving the country in a state of political paralysis after years of hyperinflation and shortages of food and medicine.

“You don’t negotiate because you want to. You negotiate because you have to,” said Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela researcher at the nongovernmental Washington Office on Latin America.

“It’s become pretty clear neither has been able to impose their dominant strategy on the other,” he said.

Norway has a long, successful history of foreign mediation: The country hosted peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians in September 1993, and the Philippines government and Maoist rebels in 2011. The government also brokered a 2002 cease-fire between Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebel negotiators. Seven years ago, negotiators from the Colombian government and left-wing FARC rebels held their first direct talks in a decade in Norway.

Guaidó confirmed that envoys were in Norway, but warned that the opposition won’t enter into any “false negotiation.”

He said any talks must lead to the end of President Nicolás Maduro’s government, its replacement by a transitional administration and free and fair elections.

Maduro disputes opposition claims that his reelection last year was illegitimate and says U.S. sanctions imposed on Venezuela to try to oust him should be lifted.

Maduro noted his information minister, Jorge Rodríguez, had carried out “the first part” of an important mission in Europe. He said he expected Rodríguez back in Venezuela by Friday and that more details will be revealed.

Participation in the mediation effort is a reversal for the opposition, which has accused Maduro of using negotiations between 2016 and 2018 to play for time. Maduro, in turn, alleges the opposition tried to seize power by force. U.S. officials have said they are focusing on diplomatic and economic measures to force out Maduro. However, Guaidó said his Washington envoy would meet with the head of the U.S. Southern Command on Monday.

The opposition also says Cuba has propped up Maduro with military and intelligence help. Cuba has denied this. Marcelino Medina, Cuba’s First Vice Minister of Foreign Relations, was in Norway on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of what his office called a tour of Scandinavian countries.

Meanwhile, the International Contact Group, comprising eight European nations, the European Union and four Latin American countries, has been working on the Venezuela problem, favoring free and fair elections as soon as possible. The group formed after Guaidó, the head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, declared himself interim president in January in a direct challenge to Maduro, who says his government champions the socialist principles of his predecessor, Hugo Chávez.

The opposition, backed by more than 50 nations, says Venezuela’s dire economic state is the result of years of corruption and mismanagement. Maduro, whose allies include Russia, blames the country’s problems on more recent U.S. pressure.

In Washington, four demonstrators who had been protesting inside the Venezuelan Embassy for weeks were arrested Thursday. The protesters consider Maduro to be Venezuela’s leader, but the U.S. recognized Guaidó’s envoy as ambassador.

Maduro denounced the arrests and said his government would show respect for international law by reinforcing security around the empty U.S. Embassy in Caracas. The last American diplomats left Venezuela in March.

Also Thursday, Guaidó said the opposition, aided by sympathetic security forces, had freed a former police chief who was under government-imposed house arrest as part of a 30-year prison term linked to an attempted coup in 2002. The government has not commented on the whereabouts of Iván Simonovis, described by activists as one of Venezuela’s most prominent political prisoners.

I.M. Pei, Pioneering Architect Who Designed Iconic Louvre Pyramid, Dies at 102

Posted: 16 May 2019 04:08 PM PDT

I.M. Pei, the world-renowned architect famous for designing the glass pyramid entry to the Louvre in Paris, has died, according to the New York Times and other outlets. He was 102.

Known for his groundbreaking architecture, his influential structures sparked both awe and controversy as he elevated himself to the top of his field. His other notable works include the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Ohio.

Born in China in 1917, Pei moved to the United States in 1935 to study architecture. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and, later, the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Shortly after graduating from Harvard, Pei was hired by William Zeckendorf to work for the firm Webb & Knapp, in 1948. He went on to build his own firm, I. M. Pei & Associates, which he set up in 1955.

Though his early work included several high-rise projects, he later became known for his creative museum designs. In the late 1960s, he completed the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, the Everson Museum of Art in New York and the Des Moines Art Center in Iowa, before working on the Louvre, the National Gallery of Art and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Not one to opt for early retirement, Pei also accepted an offer to design the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar in 2008.

Although Pei reached icon status in his field, both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Museum of Islamic Art were challenges for him, since Pei reportedly didn’t love the rock music, and was previously unfamiliar with Islamic art.

Pei — who had four children with wife Eileen Loo, who died in 2014 after 72 years of marriage — also outlived some of his own designs. His Sundrome of New York’s JFK International Airport was pulled down in 2011, and Hong Kong’s Sunning Plaza was demolished in 2013.

Looking back at his career to The Guardian a decade ago, Pei noted that architecture is an art form that takes time.

“As a young man, of course I had been looking for something new, even revolutionary,” he said. “But, after some years, I began to think differently. I became interested in a modern architecture that made connections to place, history and ­nature. Modern architecture needed to be part of an evolutionary, not a ­revolutionary, process.”

The Queen Is Hiring a Social Media Manager, So Get Those Résumés Royal-Ready

Posted: 16 May 2019 01:00 PM PDT

If you have royal fever and you’re a social media pro, your dream job has arrived. Buckingham Palace is currently hiring a “digital communications officer” in charge of curating the Queen’s social media presence. In other words, you’d be taking care of those pesky Instagram and Twitter updates for Queen Elizabeth II herself.

“Whether you’re covering a state visit, award ceremony or Royal engagement, you’ll make sure our digital channels consistently spark interest and reach a range of audiences,” the new job description notes. “The reaction to our work is always high-profile, and so reputation and impact will be at the forefront of all you do.”

The palace is looking for candidates with previous experience managing websites and “delivering successful digital communications,” who also are “innovative and with creative flair” and have good writing and photography skills — because Instagram photos require a trained eye, of course. (Video production skills are “highly desirable,” too.) Does this mean you will become the Queen’s de facto Instagram boyfriend? Or make her Tik Tok famous? Maybe! “This is your opportunity to use your digital expertise to deliver the exceptional,” the job opening notes. Between her love of dogs, castles and many grand- and great-grandchildren, just think of the content opportunities.

The perks aren’t bad either: 33 vacation days annually, free lunch (!) and a full benefits package. (Also, maybe even a knighthood if things go well.) The job is based in Buckingham Palace, of course, and is identified as “entry level” on LinkedIn. It should be noted that the salary is listed at around $38,000 though, which is about the U.K.’s overall median income a few years back, but 22% below the London median.

With the recently-launched Instagram account for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry gaining popularity, and with Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge also owning their own Kensington Royal account, it seems the Queen is ready to step up her own social media game. Time to get your résumé up to #royal #standards.

A Photo Agency Took Photos of Prince Harry’s Bedroom From a Helicopter. It’s Now Paid Him ‘Substantial Damages’

Posted: 16 May 2019 09:52 AM PDT

(LONDON) — Prince Harry settled privacy and data protection claims Thursday against a news agency that hovered over his home in a helicopter and took photos directly into his living room and bedroom.

Harry accepted substantial damages and an apology from Splash News and Picture Agency. The figure was not disclosed.

In a statement read at High Court in London on Harry’s behalf, his attorney Gerrard Tyrrell said the rural retreat in Oxfordshire, southern England was chosen because of “the high level of privacy it afforded,” but that now he and his wife Meghan feel “they are no longer able to live at the property.”

It said that in January, Splash chartered a helicopter that flew over the home at a low altitude, and photos it took were published by several media outlets.

The agency pledged to “cease and desist from selling, issuing, publishing or making available the photographs.” Splash also promised “not repeat its conduct by using any aerial means to take photographs or film footage of the duke’s private home.”

Splash says it “recognized that this situation represents an error of judgment” and promised it would not happen again.

The royals have in the past sought to defend their privacy rights in the courts. Harry’s brother William and his wife Kate sued a French gossip magazine, for example, in a case of topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge.

The couple filed a complaint after the photos were published in the magazine Closer and a regional newspaper in 2012, the year after their wedding.

Harry has complained in the past about intrusive press coverage. He and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, recently moved from central London to a more secluded home, Frogmore Cottage, near Windsor Castle some 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of London.

Switzerland Loves Guns. The E.U. Wants Reforms. Voters Will Decide

Posted: 16 May 2019 09:16 AM PDT

The hills of Switzerland will soon be alive with the sound of gunfire.

The country’s largest annual shooting competition, the Feldschiessen, held between May 24 and 26, attracts an estimated 130,000 sharpshooters of all ages from all over Switzerland. It is not uncommon to see kids as young as 12 handling weapons with the steady-handed assurance of more experienced marksmen.

But the Feldschiessen — or field shooting competition, in English — is not just a recreational pursuit. It is anchored in a deep sense of civic responsibility and national pride in this Alpine nation of 8.5 million. Mandatory military service for males, for instance, is considered the pinnacle of patriotic duty.

Guns in Switzerland are seen as more than just a safeguard of neutrality and national security. More than any other Europeans, the Swiss pride themselves on their ability to manage their gun culture in a controlled and organized manner.

But now that culture is facing an existential threat from abroad. On May 19, the Swiss will vote on whether to keep their cherished shooting traditions intact, or submit to stricter gun regulations required by the European Union.

After the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015, when 130 people were killed mostly by gunfire, the E.U. restricted certain semi-automatic firearms and magazines, and made the purchase, licensing, and registration of weapons more onerous.

While Switzerland doesn’t belong to the E.U., it is part of the bloc’s Schengen zone that can be visited without a visa or passport by citizens of 26 European nations — and so Brussels is urging the country to comply with its laws. If Switzerland votes to refuse, it might be excluded from the Schengen zone, along with the tourism revenue and police and judicial support membership brings.

That’s why the government and most political parties here are urging voters to accept E.U.’s regulations in the nationwide ballot on Sunday. If approved by the electorate, the government argues on its website, the new law “will not change Swiss gun traditions,” including the ability to keep military weapons in soldiers’ homes, a custom dating back to WWII, when every man had to be armed and ready to defend his country at a moment’s notice.

But many here say the new law would be off-target. “The bureaucratic effort involved in buying guns would be many times larger,” says arms expert Jean-Paul Schild. “And it would bring nothing in terms of security and anti-terrorism, since today’s weapons are already registered.”

Schild is the owner of Schild Waffen, a large gun dealership in the northern town of Wallbach. He won’t reveal how many firearms he sells, only that most customers buy “primarily handguns, hunting and sporting rifles, and collectibles.” Many of his clients are women, reflecting the fact that guns are an integral part of not only military traditions, but recreational activities as well.

Barbara Keller-Inhelder is one example.“I am from a traditional Swiss family of shooters and like to practice,” she says. Keller is also a member of the Swiss Parliament and sits on the Security Policy Commission. Like Schild’s, her views reflect the conservative positions of her political group, the Swiss People Party, which has been actively campaigning against what it calls “the E.U.’s interference” in Swiss national affairs.

“Switzerland is the safest and most secure country in Europe, even though it has a community of several hundred thousand shooters, most of them with their personally owned weapons,” she says.

In fact, the Swiss pride themselves on being heavily armed – officially with 28 guns for every 100 people, according to Small Arms Survey, a Geneva-based NGO. That’s comparatively little compared to the United States, which has the world’s highest rate with 1.2 firearms per capita. But lobbyists claim the real number of arms in Switzerland is much higher because registration of guns became mandatory only in 2008, and statistics don’t include millions of undeclared weapons.

“Our best estimates are between 14 and 18 million firearms in a country of 8.5 million people, making Switzerland’s density double that of the USA,” says Marc Heim, member of the Board of PROTELL, the country’s gun lobby.

Yet despite the prevalence of weapons, gun homicides here are among the world’s lowest — 0.5% per 100,000 people, as compared to nearly 5% in the U.S.

The reason this gun-happy country has so few murders by firearms is “attitude and education,” Heim says, explaining that his own children, like many others, grew up around weapons and learned to safely handle guns and shoot by 4 years of age. “It’s just a normal part of life,” he notes.

Historian Josef Lang agrees that Swiss guns are not as widely used to commit violent acts as they are in the U.S., because “we have less social problems and less social exclusion.”

But Lang’s personal experience as a survivor of a massacre had given him a different view of weapons. He was a member of the state parliament in the city of Zug in 2001, when a gunman stormed into the chamber and started shooting. Lang hid under a desk as bullets flew, surviving the worst mass murder in Switzerland’s history, while 14 of his colleagues were killed and 14 others wounded.

“Even though I was a soldier and kept my army rifle at home, this massacre strengthened my determination to speak out for less weapons, more gun control, and stronger laws,” Lang says. The upcoming referendum, he says, “is a step in the right direction, as the proposed reform would strengthen the control of weapons.”

It is precisely these additional restrictions that are firing up many Swiss gun owners, who argue that the sale of weapons is already tightly regulated in this safety-conscious society. To buy weapons from an authorized dealer, citizens or legal residents over the age of 18 require a permit from the government and no criminal record or history of mental illness.

However, rifles and semiautomatic long arms used for hunting are exempt from these requirements. And no license is needed for transactions between private individuals.

But while the prospect of having stricter rules is daunting for Swiss shooting enthusiasts, they are even more angered about having to bow to the demands of the European Union, fearing it would create a precedent for other threats to its sovereignty. “The guns matter, of course, but most importantly, our independence will be lost,” PROTELL’s Heim says.

This sentiment is echoed by parliamentarian Keller. “Do we accept the interference of Europe in activities for which a sovereign and secure country like Switzerland should be solely responsible?” she asks.

The answer won’t be known until votes are counted on May 19, but in the meantime, there seems to be rising interest in gun ownership. Police records show that in some regions, 40% more gun licenses have been granted recently than in previous years.

This may well be an indication that whichever way the vote goes, the Swiss are not ready to lay down their arms.

World News Updates, World News, Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs, World News Updates

Posted: 17 May 2019 02:03 AM PDT

World News Updates, World News, Current Affairs, Daily Current Affairs, World News Updates


Merkel TURNS her back on Europe: German leader REJECTS Brussels' plea to save the EU

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:37 AM PDT



ANGELA Merkel yesterday denied that she is in the hunt for a top European Union job after her term as German chancellor ends.

Ashley Massaro dead: WWE star dies age 39 at New York home

Posted: 16 May 2019 10:15 PM PDT



WWE star Ashley Massaro has died in her New York home local police have confirmed.

California plane crash: F-16 fighter jet 'packed with weapons' SMASHES into US warehouse

Posted: 16 May 2019 09:32 PM PDT



AN F-16 fighter jet last night crashed into a large commercial building outside a military base in Riverside County, California tearing a huge hole in its roof.

Egypt discovery: How archaeologists 'found remains of LOST TOWN' near Great Pyramid site

Posted: 17 May 2019 01:06 AM PDT



ARCHAEOLOGISTS uncovered the remains of a "lost town" buried in the desert of Cairo, Egypt, it was revealed during a documentary on the ancient monument.

Melania Trump and secretive sister's bond behind closed doors REVEALED -‘incredible woman’

Posted: 16 May 2019 08:06 PM PDT



MELANIA TRUMP's sister has lifted the lid on her close bond with the First Lady.

Trump thinks he’s above the law and a KING says President's biographer in BRUTAL attack

Posted: 16 May 2019 06:52 PM PDT



DONALD TRUMP has been accused of believing he is above the law by a CNN journalist.

California plane crash: SHOCKING images show inside devastated warehouse after jet crash

Posted: 16 May 2019 05:54 PM PDT



AN F-16 fighter jet crashed into a Riverside County warehouse in California today.

Iran-US relations on KNIFE EDGE as Tehran accuses Trump of ‘propaganda WARFARE’

Posted: 16 May 2019 04:57 PM PDT



IRAN has accused Donald Trump of using the media to escalate tensions between the two states.

Dubai plane crash leaves three Britons DEAD after 'technical malfunction'

Posted: 16 May 2019 04:17 PM PDT



FOUR people have been killed, including three Britons, after a UK-registered small DA42 plane crashed three miles to the south of Dubai International Airport, the United Arab Emirates' General Civil Aviation Authority has said.

South China Sea: US Navy chief calls on ally Australia to take action amid Beijing dispute

Posted: 16 May 2019 04:25 PM PDT



A SENIOR US Naval chief has encouraged Australian and Indonesian maritime forces to step up patrols in the disputed South China Sea, where China has been busy fortifying islands in recent years.

Tally ERP9 Silver GST Ready- Single User (Email Delivery in 2 hours- No CD)

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:39 AM PDT

Tally ERP9 Silver GST Ready- Single User (Email Delivery in 2 hours- No CD)


  • After ordering, the activation key along with dowload link plus instructions can be found within 2 hours at amazon.in/msg or at your Amazon registered email ID
  • Comes with Tally ERP9 latest Release (6.4)- you can run your business operations with GST compliant rules
  • Generate and print invoices as per GST format
  • Powerful error detection and correction capability to ensure you file correct GST returns. Generate GST returns in either JSON format or Excel offline utility
  • Generate and manage e-Way Bills easily


Tally.ERP 9 Silver (Single User)
Tally.ERP 9 is India's most popular business software – driving the growth of over a million businesses for more than two decades. Developed using proprietary, indigenous technology, it is a true "Made in India" product built to handle diverse and complex business conditions – in a Simple way!! It is a complete, fully-integrated, Plug and Play business management software that handles all critical business needs, including:
- Accounting, Finance management - Including Balance Sheet, P&L, Ratio Analysis
- Banking transactions and reconciliation
- Inventory management
- Sales & Purchases Management - Order management and invoicing
- Statutory compliance (GST, VAT, Service Tax, Excise, TDS)
- Vendor Management – Business information, outstanding and credit management
- Payroll Management - employee profile, pay structure, attendance, reports and statutory
- Manufacturing and Job Work
- Data Security and Audit
- Data exchange and other business capabilities
GST Ready Tally.ERP 9 Release 6.4 series provides the best statutory compliance experience, helping businesses to confidently generate 100% accurate GST returns in a matter of minutes ensuring compliance becomes easier, simpler and quicker.
Tally.ERP 9 is simple to install, learn, use and maintain. More than 75% of users do this on their own without any assistance! However for users who need assistance, we has a strong Support Centre – assisted by more than 100 support executives who service your requests on phone, email, and chat.
Customers who purchase this product on Amazon through the seller Tally Solutions Pvt. Ltd. are eligible for a free Tally product experience and basic training from a certified partner nearest to customer's business location.
Tally.ERP 9 Silver runs on a single system at a time. Packed with additional capabilities that provide data security, remote access, on-demand data synchronization and flexibility to suit your business processes, Tally.ERP 9 is the perfect solution to accelerate your business growth!
perating SystemWindows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Architecture64bit/32 bit
Hardware requirementsPC

BILL SMART - GST Compliant, Billing, Invoicing, Software

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:36 AM PDT

  • BiLL Smart is Invoicing, Party Management, Purchase Mgmt, Payments, Stock, Quotation, Expense Management etc. - Entries are maintained & the invoice for the same can be generated with few clicks only. It is fast & easy to use; no need for accounting knowledge.
  • BiLL Sma it is reliable, secure and safe. i.e. You own your data !!! Data is stored in your machine. Data can be backed-up easily. Reports gets generated in pdf and .xls formats.
  • Flexibility of entering/updating GST Tax values. i.e. On change of tax rules, no need for application upgrade.
  • Bill Smart is Stand alone – NO need of INTERNET connection. Bill Smart is cost effective. No Yearly Licence Fees!!!
  • Easy to use, Company provides training of usage as well.

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Features: Bill Smart is GST Compliant - Invoicing, Billing, Party Management, Purchase Mgmt, Payment Management, Stock, Reports Management Software. Purchase Management & Billing can be generated with few clicks only. - BiLL SMART automatically keeps the inventory updated. You can visualize the current stock and place required orders, based on the stock available. - Customized Invoices available on Order at nominal cost. Various kinds of Reports are generated which includes, Sale Report (Date Range wise, Customer wise, Payment Mode wise etc), Purchase Report, GST reports etc in different formats (pdf & .xls). Fast sale using POS is also available. It has Module of SMS Notifications to Customer, Owner for Sale, Purchase and for Promotions also. The intelligent features of BiLL SMART need no knowledge of Accounting. Even a Non-Accounting literate, can easily use BiLL SMART. - Working with BiLL SMART is Fun !!! BiLL SMART works offline, i.e. No dependency of INTERNET connection. - Cost Effective, with NO Yearly licensing fees. Contact @ 8407978600 Company's helpline/support number for further queries.

Tally ERP9 Silver GST Ready- Single User (Activation Key Card)

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:31 AM PDT

Tally ERP9 Silver GST Ready- Single User (Activation Key Card)


Platform : Windows Vista, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows XP, Windows 7 
  • Comes with Tally ERP9 latest Release (6.4)- you can run your business operations with GST compliant rules
  • Generate and print invoices as per GST format
  • Powerful error detection and correction capability to ensure you file correct GST returns
  • Generate GST returns in either JSON format or Excel offline utility
  • Generate and manage e-Way Bills easily
  • Manage your working capital efficiently
  • Integrate your payroll processes, control and optimize costs
  • Track and maintain the right stocks at the right time, manage raw material and finished goods
  • Identify and retain your top suppliers and customers, fulfill your orders on time. Simplify your banking processes. Take business decision on the move anytime and anywhere, access your branch performance data with ease
  • For any installation and technical queries, please contact Tally Customer support on – 18002008859



Tally.ERP 9 Silver (Single User)
Tally.ERP 9 is India's most popular business software – driving the growth of over a million businesses for more than two decades. Developed using proprietary, indigenous technology, it is a true "Made in India" product built to handle diverse and complex business conditions – in a Simple way!! It is a complete, fully-integrated, Plug and Play business management software that handles all critical business needs, including:
  • Accounting, Finance management - Including Balance Sheet, P&L, Ratio Analysis
  • Banking transactions and reconciliation
  • Inventory management
  • Sales & Purchases Management - Order management and invoicing
  • Statutory compliance (GST, VAT, Service Tax, Excise, TDS)
  • Vendor Management – Business information, outstanding and credit management
  • Payroll Management - employee profile, pay structure, attendance, reports and statutory
  • Manufacturing and Job Work
  • Data Security and Audit
  • Data exchange and other business capabilitiesTally.ERP 9 Silver (Single User)
    Tally.ERP 9 is India's most popular business software – driving the growth of over a million businesses for more than two decades. Developed using proprietary, indigenous technology, it is a true "Made in India" product built to handle diverse and complex business conditions – in a Simple way!! It is a complete, fully-integrated, Plug and Play business management software that handles all critical business needs, including:
    • Accounting, Finance management - Including Balance Sheet, P&L, Ratio Analysis
    • Banking transactions and reconciliation
    • Inventory management
    • Sales & Purchases Management - Order management and invoicing
    • Statutory compliance (GST, VAT, Service Tax, Excise, TDS)
    • Vendor Management – Business information, outstanding and credit management
    • Payroll Management - employee profile, pay structure, attendance, reports and statutory
    • Manufacturing and Job Work
    • Data Security and Audit
    • Data exchange and other business capabilities
    Tally.ERP 9 Silver (Single User)  
    GST Ready Tally.ERP 9 Release 6.4 series provides the best statutory compliance experience, helping businesses to confidently generate 100% accurate GST returns in a matter of minutes ensuring compliance becomes easier, simpler and quicker.
    Tally.ERP 9 is simple to install, learn, use and maintain. More than 75% of users do this on their own without any assistance! However for users who need assistance, we has a strong Support Centre – assisted by more than 100 support executives who service your requests on phone, email, and chat.
    Customers who purchase this product on Amazon through the seller Tally Solutions Pvt. Ltd. are eligible for a free Tally product experience and basic training from a certified partner nearest to customer's business location. Just call our Toll-Free Number 1-800-200-8859.
    Tally.ERP 9 Silver runs on a single system at a time.
    Packed with additional capabilities that provide data security, remote access, on-demand data synchronization and flexibility to suit your business processes, Tally.ERP 9 is the perfect solution to accelerate your business growth!

How Installing Tally will Help in GST Compliance?

With Tally ERP 9 Release 6.4, you can start running your entire business operations to comply with GST rules using the following capabilities:
1. Running your Day-to-Day Business Operations:
- Set up all the required tax rates, and maintain GSTIN details of all your suppliers and customers
- Ensure that all new transactions are GST-compliant, and print GST- invoices
2. Submitting your GST Returns:
GST-ready Tally ERP 9 allows to generate GSTR-1, GSTR-3B and GSTR-4 from within the product itself. You can go to the respective GSTR reports, apply corrections to vouchers that appear in incomplete/mismatch of information and export the same to in JSON format and upload it directly in the GST portal, or you can export in Excel offline utility tool and upload to the GST portal.
3. Manage and Generate E-Way Bills Using Tally ERP 9:
When you create the invoice before transporting goods, Tally ERP 9 captures all the necessary details required to capture e-way bill. Just export the invoice in JSON format and upload to the e-way portal to generate e-way bill. You can then enter the e-way bill number (EBN) in its corresponding invoice, print and hand it over to the transporter.
You can export JSON file for a single invoice or for multiple invoices together in one go.
If the mode of transport, vehicle no., place of supply and State are same for a given set of invoices, you can group invoices accordingly and generate a single JSON file for a consolidated e-way bill. But first, you must generate e-way bills for each invoice as a prerequisite.
Tally ERP 9 identifies invoices for which e-way bills are yet to be generated. You can add, modify, delete, consolidate and track e-way bills against invoices.
You can generate e-way bills in cases of purchases made from unregistered dealers; and also for credit notes, delivery notes and receipt notes as well.
Preferred business solution for small & medium enterprises.
Tally ERP 9 is a complete business management software solution preferred by over a million enterprises across 140 countries. It offers comprehensive capabilities to manage all your critical business requirements such as:
- Accounting & Finance
- Inventory Management
- Sales Management
- Purchase Management
- Manufacturing & Job Work
- Banking & reconciliation
- Payroll Management


Tally ERP 9 is designed keeping in mind the typical routine of a business owner. It simplifies business processes such that managing becomes easy and effective. Designed with the principles of simplicity, flexibility and reliability, Tally ERP 9 seamlessly adapts to your business environment and scales itself as your business grows. The strong capabilities of the product are further enhanced through regular product updates which provides the latest Tally technology and powerful connectivity services to your business. Tally ERP 9 is the perfect solution to accelerate your business growth.

Buy Hindalco; target of Rs 253: Motilal Oswal

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Buy Hindalco; target of Rs 253: Motilal Oswal
Buy Hindalco; target of Rs 253: Motilal Oswal Motilal Oswal is bullish on Hindalco has recommended buy rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 253 in its research report dated May 16, 2019.

Source: MC

Lok Sabha election LIVE: PM Modi addresses last public rally for general elections 2019

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Lok Sabha election LIVE: PM Modi addresses last public rally for general elections 2019
Lok Sabha election LIVE: PM Modi addresses last public rally for general elections 2019 Live updates of the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign. The final phase of polling will happen on May 19. It will be followed by the exit polls.

Source: MC

NSE board to challenge SEBI orders in colocation case in SAT

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

NSE board to challenge SEBI orders in colocation case in SAT
NSE board to challenge SEBI orders in colocation case in SAT SEBI has asked the NSE to disgorge Rs 624.89 crore along with 12 percent interest, and barred the exchange from accessing the capital market for six months, in the co-location case

Source: MC

Congress questions PM Modi#39;s silence on Sadhvi Pragya#39;s remarks on Nathuram Godse

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Congress questions PM Modi#39;s silence on Sadhvi Pragya#39;s remarks on Nathuram Godse
Congress questions PM Modi#39;s silence on Sadhvi Pragya#39;s remarks on Nathuram Godse Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condemned Thakur#39;s remarks and said Godse was inspired by RSS ideology.

Source: MC

Hindalco falls 2% on weak Q4 numbers; brokerages blame weak aluminium prices for for poor show

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Hindalco falls 2% on weak Q4 numbers; brokerages blame weak aluminium prices for for poor show
Hindalco falls 2% on weak Q4 numbers; brokerages blame weak aluminium prices for for poor show CLSA SAID that the outlook for the company#39;s business in the domestic market is muted due to weak aluminium prices.

Source: MC

BJP will get more than 280 seats, NDA#39;s tally 300 plus: BJP leader P Muralidhar Rao

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

BJP will get more than 280 seats, NDA#39;s tally 300 plus: BJP leader P Muralidhar Rao
BJP will get more than 280 seats, NDA#39;s tally 300 plus: BJP leader P Muralidhar Rao BJP has joined hands with Nitish Kumar-led JD (U) and Ram Vilas Paswan#39;s Lok Janshakti Party in Bihar.

Source: MC

Explainer: All you need to know about the NSE colocation case

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Explainer: All you need to know about the NSE colocation case
Explainer: All you need to know about the NSE colocation case What is the NSE colocation controversy all about, who were the players and what was the modus operandi? Here are the answers.

Source: MC

Soybean prices to trade sideways to higher: Angel Commodities

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Soybean prices to trade sideways to higher: Angel Commodities
Soybean prices to trade sideways to higher: Angel Commodities According to Angel Commodities, NCDEX Soybean edged lower on Thursday due to profit booking at higher levels to close at 3,769 rupees per 100 kg.

Source: MC

Govt working on rules to shut down firms on grounds of national security: Report

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Govt working on rules to shut down firms on grounds of national security: Report
Govt working on rules to shut down firms on grounds of national security: Report The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) will finalise these new laws over the next month to add to the 60-year-old rules for winding up a company.

Source: MC

Rupee off day#39;s low but trades lower at 70.17 per dollar

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Rupee off day#39;s low but trades lower at 70.17 per dollar
Rupee off day#39;s low but trades lower at 70.17 per dollar Today, USD-INR pair is expected to quote in the range of 70.05 and 70.70, says Motilal Oswal.

Source: MC

The road India must take after May 23 - economic news of india - world economic news - economics news for students - indian economy news

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

The road India must take after May 23
By Ajay ChhibberAs India is preoccupied with its election, the world is getting more and more uncertain and volatile. Two global developments may have huge impact on India: the trade spat between China and the US now shows signs of becoming a full-scale trade war; the removal of Iran oil purchase waivers and the prospect of rising tensions in the Gulf and elsewhere make India's oil options more difficult.A new Indian government will need to navigate through these uncertainties as it tries to revive private investment and a slump in exports as the consumption-led growth of the last two years begins to lose steam — as any consumption-led spurt always does. Despite the likelihood that the Bimal Jalan Committee will recommend transferring extra reserves from RBI to the finance ministry, a government spending-led recovery will be difficult as the unbudgeted invoices of huge election-related giveaways will need to be paid. State finances are also in a precarious state.Get the Basics RightOur research shows that the key determinants of private investment are the real exchange rate, credit available to the private sector, public investment and capacity utilisation. Public investment could be boosted by aggressively selling public sector utilities (PSUs) and earmarking those funds to the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) — and not frittered away in the revenue budget. Capacity utilisation is finally picking up, as is credit to the private sector.The injection of capital into public sector banks (PSBs) through recap bonds has provided some headroom for commercial lending. The banking sector remains impaired by the non-performing assets (NPA) problem. There was hope that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) would help resolve this. IBC is a good reform but is not designed to address a systemic NPA problem quickly. Serious reform of the banking system remains for the future.One of the most important variables that affects private investment and exports is the real effective exchange rate (Reer). Reer has appreciated by about 15% over the last five years. This is largely due to the very high interest rates that the new monetary policy framework has introduced. RBI's repo rate over the last five years has averaged 6.7% and the actual consumer price index (CPI) has averaged 4.4%, realising a real repo rate of 2.3%. The main reason for such high repo rates has been RBI's inflation expectations that have averaged 5.7% over the same period.The monetary policy framework gives primacy to inflation over growth and employment, and should be reviewed. It also produces this persistent bias of overestimating inflation expectations. The new RBI governor has lowered rates but, for now, they still remain too high. If inflation remains low, further cuts in interest rates to encourage private consumption and to reduce the overvaluation of the exchange rate are needed.Correcting the rupee overvaluation of 10-15% will be necessary, but not sufficient to boost exports. Export promotion must take on a war footing as rising oil prices will hurt India's balance of payments. India's share in global markets remains tiny, giving us huge opportunities to increase export despite the slowdown in global trade growth. Free-trade agreements with Asean also need to reviewed and expanded into the services sector where India has comparative advantage.Attracting FDI, which is leaving China for other locations, and entering global value chains must be given special priority as the China-US trade war heats up further. Relaxing labour laws will be crucial to boost India's competitiveness.Finding stable oil supplies at reasonable prices holds the key to India's prosperity as the country remains hugely vulnerable to oil price swings. Non-dollar-based oil purchase arrangements must be pursued aggressively to avoid vulnerability to sanctions.Green Shoots on the FarmsThe biggest boost to growth and employment immediately can come from the services sector, especially in tourism and mobility services. A cheaper rupee will help tourism. But India must review its tourism policy on a much more comprehensive basis. The tax rate on hotels, the poor state of infrastructure in tourist sites, which can be addressed by creating special tourist policing arrangements, must be considered, especially for women. Encouraging the mobility and e-commerce sector holds great promise also for attracting FDI.Both PM-Kisan and MGNREGA hold key to alleviating rural distress, and expanding productivity. But the funding needed if these schemes are to be expanded must come from removing wasteful subsidies in electricity and fertilisers that are now hurting agricultural productivity. Free electricity is helping create a water crisis and leading to uncompetitive cropping patterns. The current PM-Kisan scheme must be expanded to provide more direct income support to smaller farmers, and MGNREGA must be funded to provide at least 100 days of employment to help reduce distress.Any new government will also have to focus on the social sectors: the quality of education and skilling, expanding basic health, ensuring Ayushman Bharat gets properly implemented, and addressing air pollution and climate change. These must be given high priority. The immediate need is to revive the economy and create employment in a competitive manner, while handling global uncertainties and geopolitical fault lines.Businessman-politician Gary Johnson said it best, 'Regardless of who wins, an election should be a time for optimism and fresh approaches.' Let's hope that despite the bitter rhetoric of a campaign, India takes that path post-election.The writer is visiting scholar, Institute for International Economic Policy, George Washington University, US
Source: ET

Why are IndiGo founders at each other's throats? - economic news of india - world economic news - economics news for students - indian economy news

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Why are IndiGo founders at each other's throats?
MUMBAI: Cofounders Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal hold near-equal stakes in IndiGo, but the scales are tilted in favour of Bhatia when it comes to control of the board and management.Bhatia's holding company Inter-Globe Enterprises (IGE) has the right to appoint key managerial personnel, including the chairman, MD, CEO and president. It also has the right to nominate three non-independent directors, one of whom will be non-retiring.The Rakesh Gangwal (RG) Group, on the other hand, has the right to nominate just one non-independent director, who will be a non-retiring director, according to filings with the Registrar of Companies.The articles of association (AoA) also give IGE operational control over the company and its management. The RG Group is required to fully comply with the shareholders' agreement and the AoA, and its voting during general meetings is to be dictated by IGE. 69366460 "IGE Group shall at all times control the company in all aspects and manner including management and operational control thereof," says the AoA. "The RG Group shall fully comply with the terms of the shareholders' agreement and these articles (including ensuring control of the company as aforesaid by IGE) by voting at the general meetings in the manner as directed by IGE Group."'Other, Bigger Issues Too'The shareholders' agreement, which appears to be among the irritants that triggered the current tiff between Bhatia and Gangwal, expires later this year."In hindsight, would Gangwal change some clauses in the articles of association and shareholders' agreement? Absolutely! But there are other, bigger issues too," said a person close to the development.An email sent to IndiGo didn't elicit a response till press time Thursday. In a clarification to stock exchanges earlier in the day, the company said it couldn't comment as the matter related to the promoters. Neither Bhatia nor Gangwal commented on the issue.Bhatia and his family own 38.26% in the company while the Gangwal family holds 36.69%. Both have roped in their respective legal advisers — J Sagar Associates for Bhatia, and Khaitan & Co for Gangwal — to iron out the differences.The shareholders' agreement is inscribed in the company's AoA, and any change will require a special resolution.Sanjay Ashar, a partner at law firm Crawford Bayley & Co, said any change in the AoA can only happen through a special resolution and needs the approval of 75% of the shareholders. "If a shareholder fails to get 75%, they can approach the National Company Law Tribunal under Sections 241and 242 of the Companies Act, 2013," he added.The AoA also says the shareholders' agreement "will automatically expire on the fourth anniversary of the initial public offering". IndiGo's initial public offering hit the markets in October 2015, and its fourth anniversary falls in October this year.The IGE Group represents InterGlobe Enterprises, Rahul Bhatia, Rohini Bhatia and Kapil Bhatia. The RG Group represents Rakesh Gangwal, his Caelum Investments, Shobha Gangwal and The Chinkerpoo Family Trust — whose trustees are Shobha Gangwal and JPMorgan Trust Company of Delaware.It is not yet clear how the promoters would resolve their differences, but a parting of ways won't be easy. A clause in the shareholders' agreement says that "if any member of either the RG Group or the IGE Group proposes to transfer its shares to a third party purchaser (not being an affiliate) otherwise than on a stock exchange or by way of a pre-negotiated sale on a stock exchange, then the other group will have the right of first refusal and tag along right"."Neither group can transfer, either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the other group, any of its shares to a competitor or to any person, if such a proposed transfer requires such a person to make an 'open offer' under the takeover regulations," the agreement says.These clauses will, however, expire with the current shareholders' agreement in October.The case of Greg Taylor illustrates the differences between the founders. A three-decade veteran at United Airlines, Taylor was brought in at Gangwal's behest and was slated to head IndiGo. Taylor, a foreign national, though never got the requisite regulatory approvals to get appointed. Instead, Ronojoy Dutta, Gangwal's former colleague but Bhatia's choice, was brought in. Dutta too is a global aviation veteran. He headed United Airlines and was a board member at US Airways — both former employers of Gangwal. Dutta has also headed the erstwhile Air Sahara.Another point of divergence was Gangwal's aggressive ambition for expansion, which often faced resistance from IndiGo executives and Bhatia.Gangwal and Bhatia's confidence and trust in each other helped them build a profitable airline. In an interview before Indi-Go's parent InterGlobe Aviation went public, Gangwal had reflected on his relationship with Bhatia: "It evolved into a phenomenal friendship. Blind trust is the way to look at it. It has worked well for both of us. I've enjoyed this relationship."
Source: ET

Campa Cola's revival adds local fizz to market - economic news of india - world economic news - economics news for students - indian economy news

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Campa Cola's revival adds local fizz to market
MUMBAI: To the lovers of colas, who missed local brands that took the place of Coca-Cola when it was forced to leave Indian shores in 1977, Campa Cola is back. Campa Cola was created in the 1970s by the same Pure Drinks Group that had pioneered the Indian soft drinks industry by introducing Coca-Cola in India in 1949. They were the sole manufacturers and distributors of Coca-Cola till the 1970s. After Coca-Cola left India, Pure Drinks Group and Campa Beverages started Campa Cola and dominated the Indian soft drinks industry in the absence of foreign competition.With a slogan 'The Great Indian Taste', Campa Cola appealed to nationalistic fervour back then. Today, Jaywantjit Singh — a member of the fourth generation of the Singh family, which founded Pure Drinks Group — is driving the revival of the desi brand in a big way to have a national presence, in the face of stiff competition from both Coca-Cola India and PepsiCo.Jaywantjit, the greatgrandson of founder Sardar Mohan Singh, is managing operations for the brand to bring it back in the mainstream. Currently, Campa is available in almost 80% of the states with 13 franchises across different territories in Jammu & Kashmir, UP, Haryana, Punjab, five North East states, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar."We have a few franchising plants across India, catering to tier-2 and -3 cities, mainly in the north and northeast markets. We are now setting up a bottling unit in Silvassa with a capacity of 600 bottles per minute, which will cater to the western markets. We also have a presence in Nepal and are looking at southern markets like Chennai. In a way, we are gradually moving to tier-1 cities as well. We are doing about 4 million cases (each has 24 bottles of 250ml)," said Singh.69369463 After the exit of Coca-Cola, through the late 1970s and '80s, another group that dominated the soft drinks scene was Parle, with leading brands like Thums Up, Gold Spot and Limca. These were later sold to The Coca-Cola Company on its return to India, in 1993. Once Coca-Cola was back, followed by the entry of rival PepsiCo, local brands either diminished or got taken over.Samsika Marketing Consultants CMD Jagdeep Kapoor said Campa Cola has three opportunities — it has a strong brand equity in the north, a clear nostalgic value among those who have grown up with the brand and, if the taste is consistent, it will be a good trigger for old memories. However, the big challenge would be its positioning, said Kapoor."The other three cola brands — Thums Up, Coca-Cola, Pepsi — have a fairly large presence in the market. Campa Cola would need to position the brand in such a way that it appeals to today's generation as well. If a brand is contemporary, it will succeed. The brand will have to maintain a good balance between the past and the present, a balance between nostalgia and young aspirations," said Kapoor.Campa Cola is being retailed both in modern trade stores like Reliance Fresh and DMart, as also general stores. The emergence of PET bottles and cans is said to be a key reason for Campa Cola's return. In addition to cola, Campa Cola is also available in flavours like orange, lemon, lime & lemon, jeera soda and fizzy apple.
Source: ET

Sold over 2 million TV units in India in 14 months: Xiaomi - economic news of india - world economic news - economics news for students - indian economy news

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Sold over 2 million TV units in India in 14 months: Xiaomi
Chinese smartphone and electronics maker Xiaomi on Friday said it has sold more than two million television units in India in 14 months of its launch.Announcing the development, Xiaomi India MD Manu Kumar Jain tweeted: "We've sold 2 million MiTV in just 14 months. I doubt if any brand has sold so many smart TVs so fast. We are truly bringing smart TV experience to millions of Indians."Xiaomi, which is also the country's largest smartphone maker, said it is the number one smart TV brand in India for three consecutive quarters in a row quoting market tracker IDC figures for Q2, Q3 and Q4 2018.Mirroring its smartphone strategy, the company launched TV models at lower than market prices forcing the top television makers like Samsung, Sony and LG to lower prices. Samsung recently also rolled out a dedicated series at lower prices for online. Xiaomi currently sells its television models from Flipkart, its exclusive brand stores and multi-brand mobile phone retailers becoming the first TV brand to do so.
Source: ET

Top performing India blue chips fail to impress on global charts - economic news of india - world economic news - economics news for students - indian economy news

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Top performing India blue chips fail to impress on global charts
Blue-chip stocks have been the top performers in India so far in 2019 but their gains pale in comparison to their global counterparts. No Indian company made it to the top 200 list of Bloomberg 500, a club of the top 500 listed companies globally by market value, in 2019, according to an ET study on the basis of their returns. In comparison, nine companies made it to the top 200 list in 2018.Out of the 11companies that figure in Bloomberg 500, private lender Kotak Mahindra Bank is the best performing Indian stock in the list with a rank of 208. Hindustan Unilever (HUL) is the worst performer with a rank of 475 out of 500, data showed.69367273 Analysts said Indian blue chips have underperformed their global peers in 2019 on the back of growth concerns. "Indian equities have underperformed benchmark World and EM indices year-to-date, and this explains why our companies are not at the top of the performance rankings," said Bharat Iyer, head of India equity research at JP Morgan. "The underperformance this year is partially pay back for last year's outperformance and could also be attributed to the near-term slowdown in the economy and some uncertainty over the election results ."Indian entities put up a better show in the last two years in the Bloomberg 500 club. In 2018, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was ranked 20 in the list with returns of over 37 per cent while HUL and Infosys featured in the top 50 list. Even stocks such as Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank and HDFC were among the top 100 in Bloomberg 500.The action has shifted from emerging markets to developed markets in 2019 with the US benchmark index S&P 500 gaining 13 per cent . Other developed market indices such as FTSE 100, Euro Stoxx and DAX too have risen in the range of 8-15 per cent during 2019, data showed. In contrast, India's Nifty has underperformed with 2.3 per cent returns this year.The 11 Indian stocks that feature in the Bloomberg 500 list are amongst the better performing ones on the domestic bourses. Over 80 per cent of the gains made by the benchmark Nifty this year has been driven by four stocks -- Reliance Industries, the HDFC cousins and Kotak Mahindra Bank. These four stocks are a part of Bloomberg 500. Most of the other Indian blue chips have fared even poorly in the global context.This weakness in the Indian markets is also on account of several global headwinds including the sharp rise in the crude oil prices and escalating trade war tensions between world's largest economies – the US and China. Global oil prices have risen by over 40 per cent since January and are currently at $71 per barrel, data showed."If the oil price trajectory remains an upward one, this factor alone could overshadow the rest of the macro context and trigger a phase of vulnerability in the short term," said HSBC in a recent note to investors. The brokerage, however, pointed out that the riskon in the Indian equities is expected to continue since there is enough room for growth thanks to the recent correction.E-commerce firm Shopify is the best performing stock amongst the Bloomberg 500 this year with year-to-date returns of 84 per cent . The US-based telecom firm Qualcomm, Facebook, Ford Motors and Japan's Softbank are among other best performing stocks in the pack with each going up by over 40 per cent during 2018.
Source: ET

Market ready to form short-term bottom ahead of exit poll results - economic news of india - world economic news - economics news for students - indian economy news

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Market ready to form short-term bottom ahead of exit poll results
By Chandan Taparia The Nifty50 remained highly volatile throughout Thursday's session and traded in a wide range between 11,140 and 11,280 levels. The index formed a bullish candle on the daily scale as it managed to regain the losses of the previous session and closed above crucial hurdle at 11,250.The index formed a Harami pattern and a narrow range Three Bar formation on the daily scale, which indicated that a small follow-up could lead to a short-term bottom ahead of exit poll and election outcome related volatility. Now, it has to hold above 11,250 to extend its bounce towards 11,333 and then 11,420 levels while on the downside support is seen at 11,188 and then 11,118 levels.On the options front, maximum Put open interest was at 11,000 followed by 11,500 while maximum Call OI was at 12,000 followed by 12,500. There was Call writing at 11,300 followed by 11,500 while Put writing was seen at 11,000. The option band signified a trading range between 11,000 and 11,500 levels.India VIX fell 1.01 per cent to 28.37 level. However, a higher VIX suggests volatile swings could continue in the market ahead of election outcome.Bank Nifty managed to hold above 28,500 and witnessed sharp recovery from lower levels in the latter part of the session towards 28,950 level. It formed a bullish candle on the daily scale. Now it needs to hold above 29,000 to extend its move towards 29,250 and then 29,500 levels, while support exists at 28,500 and then 28,388 levels.Nifty futures closed positive at 11,301 with a gain of 1.10 per cent. Long buildup was seen in Tata Global, Tata Chemicals, Just Dial and Titan while shorts were seen in Petronet LNG, RBL Bank, IndiGo and Apollo Hospital.(Chandan Taparia is Technical & Derivative Analyst at MOFSL. Investors are advised to consult financial advisers before taking an investment calls based on these observations)
Source: ET

Wipro turns to government business, hires hands to boost numbers - economic news of india - world economic news - economics news for students - indian economy news

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

Wipro turns to government business, hires hands to boost numbers
BENGALURU: Wipro is focusing on growing revenue from its India State Run Enterprises, a business that currently has negative operating margins, by hiring account managers and sales talent, as it looks to tap the central and state governments for growth.The India SRE business provides IT service offerings to entities and departments owned or controlled by the Government of India and the various state governments.For FY19, Wipro reported $123.5 million in revenue from its SRE business and said the segment had an operating margin of -21% for the year. The revenue from this segment is not included in the company's IT services revenue. "There was a major reorganisation in this business and now the company has decided to invest again. But there will be more selective picking of projects. They are focusing on banks and utilities in the public sector and governments in specific regions such as South India and Western India," a source with direct knowledge of the company's plans said.Wipro has Sanjeev Singh to head its India state-run business, while Anand Padmanabhan heads the private enterprises business for the country. Part of the growth plan involves bringing in talent with new account managers to scout for, win and manage government projects. "They are looking to bring in at least 10-15 people with sales and account managing experience," the source said.A search of professional networking site LinkedIn, shows a slew of job offerings asking for six to 10 years of experience in selling to the governments and public sector businesses and the ability to 'hunt' for new customers and 'farm' existing accounts.Wipro includes the revenue it gets from the private sector in India in its IT services revenue. The company, however, does not break that revenue out separately.
Source: ET

Production drop hit tea arrivals to Kochi auctions

Posted: 17 May 2019 12:04 AM PDT

The average price realised in dust varieties was Rs 124.36/kg
Source: BHT

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